Life Span
Perennial
  
Perennial
  
Type
Perennial
  
Herbaceous Perennial
  
Origin
Eastern Europe, Kazakhstan, Mongolia, Northwestern China, Russia
  
China, Japan, Korea
  
Types
not available
  
Not Available
  
Habitat
Banks
  
Dappled Shade, meadows, Shady Edge, Sunny Edge, Woodland Garden
  
USDA Hardiness Zone
3-8
  
5-9
  
AHS Heat Zone
8-1
  
9-4
  
Sunset Zone
A1, A2, A3, 1a, 1b, 2a, 2b, 3a, 3b, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
  
2a, 2b, 3a, 3b, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
  
Habit
Upright/Erect
  
Clump-Forming
  
Plant Size
  
  
Plant Color
  
  
Flower Color
Red, Orange, Rose, Salmon, Peach, Orange Red
  
Light Yellow, Ivory
  
Flower Color Modifier
Bicolor
  
Bicolor
  
Fruit Color
Brown
  
Not Available
  
Leaf Color in Spring
Green
  
Green
  
Leaf Color in Summer
Green
  
Green
  
Leaf Color in Fall
Green
  
Green
  
Leaf Color in Winter
Light Green
  
Not Available
  
Shape
  
  
Leaf Shape
Ovate elongated
  
Ovate
  
Thorns
No
  
No
  
Plant Season
Spring, Summer
  
Spring, Summer, Fall
  
Growing Conditions
  
  
Sunlight
Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial shade
  
Partial shade, Full Shade
  
Growth Rate
Fast
  
Fast
  
Type of Soil
Clay, Loam, Sand
  
Clay, Loam, Sand
  
The pH of Soil
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
  
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
  
Soil Drainage
Average
  
Poorly Drained
  
Bloom Time
Late Spring, Early Summer, Summer
  
Early Spring, Late Winter
  
Repeat Bloomer
No
  
No
  
Tolerances
Drought
  
Wet Site
  
Where to Plant?
Ground
  
Container, Ground, Pot
  
How to Plant?
Divison, Seedlings
  
Divison, Seedlings
  
Plant Maintenance
Medium
  
Medium
  
Watering Plants
  
  
Watering Requirements
Do not let dry out between waterings
  
Water once every two or three weeks
  
In Summer
Lots of watering
  
Lots of watering
  
In Spring
Moderate
  
Moderate
  
In Winter
Average Water
  
Average Water
  
Soil
  
  
Soil pH
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
  
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
  
Soil Type
Clay, Loam, Sand
  
Clay, Loam, Sand
  
Soil Drainage Capacity
Average
  
Poorly Drained
  
Sun Exposure
Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial shade
  
Partial shade, Full Shade
  
Pruning
In late autumn, Remove deadheads
  
Remove the old foliage
  
Fertilizers
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer
  
Use a fertilizer ratio of 16-4-8
  
Pests and Diseases
Aphids, Red blotch, Slugs
  
No serious insect or disease problems
  
Plant Tolerance
Drought
  
Drought
  
Flowers
Yes
  
Showy
  
Flower Petal Number
Single
  
Not Available
  
Fruits
  
  
Showy Fruit
No
  
No
  
Edible Fruit
No
  
No
  
Fragrance
  
  
Fragrant Flower
No
  
Yes
  
Fragrant Fruit
No
  
No
  
Fragrant Leaf
No
  
No
  
Fragrant Bark/Stem
No
  
No
  
Showy Foliage
Yes
  
Yes
  
Showy Bark
No
  
No
  
Foliage Texture
Medium
  
Bold
  
Foliage Sheen
Glossy
  
Glossy
  
Evergreen
No
  
No
  
Invasive
Sometimes
  
Sometimes
  
Self-Sowing
Yes
  
No
  
Attracts
Butterflies, Hummingbirds
  
Not Available
  
Allergy
Not Available
  
no allergic reactions
  
Uses
  
  
Aesthetic Uses
Showy Purposes
  
Bog Garden, Showy Purposes
  
Beauty Benefits
No Beauty Benefits
  
Not Available
  
Edible Uses
No
  
Yes
  
Environmental Uses
Air purification
  
Air purification
  
Plant Benefits
  
  
Medicinal Uses
Not Available
  
Antiasthamatic, Antispasmodic, Expectorant, Poultice
  
Part of Plant Used
Whole plant
  
Flowers, Stem
  
Other Uses
Used as Ornamental plant
  
Can be boiled and seasoned, pickled, Used as umbrellas by Japanese children, Used as walking sticks, Used like rhubarb
  
Used As Indoor Plant
No
  
No
  
Used As Outdoor Plant
Yes
  
Yes
  
Garden Design
Bedding Plant, Feature Plant, Mixed Border
  
Bog Garden, Container, Feature Plant, Water Gardens
  
Botanical Name
LYCHNIS chalcedonica
  
PETASITES japonicus
  
Common Name
Maltese cross, Jerusalem cross, Burning love, Dusky salmon
  
Giant Butterbur, Japanese Butterbur
  
In Hindi
Maltese cross
  
Giant Butterbur
  
In German
Malteserkreuz
  
Riesen Pestwurz
  
In French
Maltese cross
  
géant Butterbur
  
In Spanish
cruz de Malta
  
gigante petasita
  
In Greek
σταυρό της Μάλτας
  
Giant Butterbur
  
In Portuguese
cruz de Malta
  
Carrapicho gigante
  
In Polish
krzyż maltański
  
Giant Lepiężnik
  
In Latin
Duces crucis
  
Giant Butterbur
  
Kingdom
Plantae
  
Plantae
  
Phylum
Magnoliophyta
  
Magnoliophyta
  
Class
Magnoliopsida
  
Magnoliopsida
  
Order
Caryophyllales
  
Asterales
  
Family
Caryophyllaceae
  
Asteraceae
  
Genus
Lychnis
  
Petasites
  
Clade
Angiosperms, Core eudicots, Eudicots
  
Angiosperms, Asterids, Eudicots
  
Tribe
Not Available
  
Senecioneae
  
Subfamily
Not Available
  
Asteroideae
  
Number of Species
Not Available
  
Not Available