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For the second year in a row, a volunteer Maltese Cross (Lychnis chalcedonica) plant popped up between some concrete pavers that border my garden. The plant grew almost 3 feet tall, and because I deadheaded the flowers, it rewarded me with flowers all summer long.
Even without the drought it’s amazing that the plant could thrive so nicely since few, if any, of its roots are actually touching soil. But even if some of the roots have escaped into the garden they would be quite a distance from the soaker hoses I relied on throughout the summer when it was just too darn hot to water the garden by hand.
Either I’m growing a miracle plant or the Maltese Cross is one rugged perennial.