Growing and Sowing Burning Love

Burning Love, also known as Maltese Cross (Silene chalcedonica), is a hardy perennial that stands out for its bright red flowers. The plant owes its romantic name to this flaming colour. In early summer, the flowers form dense, saucer-shaped clusters on sturdy stems about 80 to 100 centimetres high. It is a real eye-catcher in the border that is also highly favoured by butterflies and bees.

Sowing and growing Burning Love

Burning Love (Silene chalcedonica) is native to Eastern Europe, Southern Russia, Siberia, and Central Asia. In these regions, the plant grows naturally in damp woodland meadows, open grasslands, shrublands, and ravines. Due to its striking, bright floral colour, the plant was introduced to Western Europe centuries ago. In the garden, Burning Love is mainly planted as a striking accent plant at the back or in the middle of a border. Because of its bright, flaming colour and height (up to 100 cm), the plant immediately draws attention.

How sowing Burning Love?

Burning Love can be sown indoors from March to April or directly outdoors in open ground from May to July. The seeds require light to germinate, so do not cover them or cover them only very lightly with soil. At a temperature of 18 to 20 °C, the seeds will germinate within two to three weeks. After this, the young plants can be transplanted in autumn to their final, sunny spot with a planting distance of 25 to 30 centimetres. Flowering will then take place from the second year onwards.

Burning Love Seeds >

Position and soil for burning love?

Burning Love requires a position in full sun or potentially light partial shade. A sunny location ensures the most intense red blooms and sturdy stems. The soil should be nutrient-rich, humus-rich, and above all well-drained, as the plant is sensitive to root rot caused by excess water. In terms of soil type, this perennial grows excellently in normal garden soil or sandy soil enriched with compost, while heavy clay soil must be well loosened beforehand and mixed with sand to improve drainage.

How to care for your Burning Love plants?

Caring for Burning Love is simple and requires little time. The soil should be kept consistently slightly moist. In early spring, compost or organic fertilisers can be applied to encourage vigorous flowering. Deadheading faded flowers during summer stimulates a second bloom. Cut the entire plant back to just above the ground in early spring. Because the stems can become top-heavy, it is advisable to provide support. The plant can be divided every three to four years to keep it healthy.

Is Burning Love bee and/or butterfly friendly?

Burning Love is an insect-friendly plant that attracts large numbers of butterflies, bees, and hoverflies to the garden due to its nectar-rich flowers. Because the flowers bloom in early summer (June and July), the plant provides an important food source during a period when many insects are searching for nourishment while relatively little is available. Furthermore, the open structure of the flower heads makes the nectar easily accessible to various types of pollinators.

Can Burning Love in the vegetable garden?

Burning Love can be a valuable addition to a vegetable garden, as the plant attracts many pollinators. Since the plant is non-edible and mildly toxic, it serves solely to support the surrounding vegetable crops.

Is Burning Love edible and/or medicinal?

Burning Love is neither edible nor medicinal. The plant is mildly toxic to both humans and pets, such as dogs and cats. Ingestion of the leaves, stems, or flowers can lead to symptoms including gastrointestinal upset, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhoea.

Please note, we at Dutch Garden Seeds do not give medical advice. Always ask a professional if and how the plant can be used medicinally.

Burning Love seeds in our collection

Our collection includes Burning Love seeds of the brand 'Buzzy Seeds'.

Tips for sowing of Burning Love

Remove faded flowers for an extended blooming period.
Support the flowers to prevent them from falling over.
Plant at least three to five specimens together; single plants fall over more easily and create a less attractive effect.
Cut back a third of the stems by half in early May to encourage better branching, keep the plant more compact, and prolong the flowering season.