It is believed that loosestrife, or lysimachia, received its Latin version of the name after Lysimachus, one of the generals under Alexander the Great. The version of the origin of the second name is the Old Russian name for willow - “willow”, the foliage of which is so similar to the greenery of the flower. The article will tell you about the proper care of loosestrife, as well as its popular varieties.
Loosestrife belongs to the Primrose family and can be perennial, biennial or annual, depending on the species: the genus includes more than a hundred of them. The species also differ in the type of stem, shade of inflorescences, etc.
The ampelous variety of loosestrife is distinguished by high decorative properties: long (up to 1.5 meters) hanging shoots with small bright yellow flowers will be an excellent decoration for the veranda. Flowering period is from June until the first frost.
Herbaceous perennial, reaching a height of 0.3 - 0.5 m. Distinctive features: dark, burgundy leaves with a wide lanceolate shape and many small lemon-yellow flowers. The plant is quite aggressive and grows very quickly; decorative all summer long.
A very tall bush up to 2 m in height. The stem is erect, pubescent, slightly branched at the top. Ovate or lanceolate leaves are grouped in 3-4 pieces. The inflorescences are a dense panicle of bright yellow flowers of regular shape. Common loosestrife is very attractive to bees.
A perennial tall (50-60 cm) plant with a long branched root, which actively spreads the flower throughout the territory through shoots. Characteristic features of this variety: pubescent and straight stem with sessile wide leaves; flowers of rich lemon color are collected at the top of the plant. Flowering occurs at the end of June - August.
The variety is extremely similar to point loosestrife: herbaceous perennial up to 0.5 meters high with broadly lanceolate leaves and yellow flowers at the very top. The flowering periods also coincide.
This is an ornamental variety derived from coin loosestrife. The variety is a creeping plant with long stems (30 cm) and small round leaves decorated with a yellowish pattern - thanks to which the species got its name.
The stunningly beautiful variety boasts a tall stem, large lanceolate leaves, turning purple in autumn, and inflorescences in the form of spikes with small white flowers in the shape of stars.
A creeping wildflower that loves moisture. It is a green carpet of small leaves of a rich green color with cup-shaped golden flowers scattered across it. Bred variety Aurea And Golden yellow- these have excellent decorative properties; their leaves are light green in color.
Lysimachia is bred vegetatively, by cuttings and seeds, and the first method is more popular due to its simplicity and effectiveness. However, for those who are not afraid of difficulties and still decide to grow loosestrife “from scratch”, We can give several recommendations:
Before planting the plant, you need to choose the right site. The fact is that lysimachia will feel good almost anywhere, but in moist soil with a high content of nutrients, loosestrife will grow much faster. Under no circumstances should you try to grow lysimachia on loam or poorly drained soil: the result will definitely disappoint the owner of the flower garden. Besides, The illumination of the area should also be taken into account: Most species like shade or partial shade, but there are also sun lovers, such as purple loosestrife. Meadow tea will grow well in strong shade.
If it is decided to plant lysimachia in the fall, then in September the seeds are sown in the beds without any preliminary preparation: next spring they will sprout in small groups. This method is the most preferable.
Another option - plant seedlings bred in spring into the ground in June. When planting, you need to ensure that the distance between the seedlings is about 50 cm. You need to pay attention to the condition of the soil: it is best to plant in open ground in well-fertilized soil - compost or manure will do the job perfectly.
As for the planting technique, there is nothing unusual here: a hole is dug, a rhizome is placed in it, which is then covered with clods of earth and compacted. The final stage is abundant watering and loosening.
If we evaluate the labor intensity of the process of caring for lysimachia as a whole, we can say that this is a rather unpretentious plant. Evidence of this is the universal belief that if you do not touch a plant even for ten years, it will still bloom and reproduce. However, for its active growth and long flowering, several general rules must be followed.
Despite the fact that not all varieties are used for decorative plantings, lysimachia, due to its bright green foliage and beautiful sunny inflorescences, takes an honorable place among its neighbors. Typically, this species is used in conjunction with other crops as a “carpet” that beautifully covers the unsightly soil surface. Let's look at specific examples:
Ideal neighbors for lysimachia are bells, astilbe, Volzhanka, ferns and other shade-loving perennials that prefer moist soil. Loosestrife species with purple or variegated leaves can be combined with bergenia, Rogers and hostas, as well as cereals, rushes and sedges - this will create an original contrast. Other interesting combinations include the following pairs: point or ciliated loosestrife and knotweed; meadow tea and ornamental grass; lily of the valley and monarda or cuff.
To summarize, we can conclude that loosestrife is an excellent option for landscaping an area, which has deservedly gained popularity among gardeners. There are many reasons for this: Lysimachia does not require special care and at the same time has a high degree of decorativeness, is resistant to any temperatures and is combined with other crops. In addition, almost all varieties of loosestrife, especially common loosestrife, have medicinal properties, so growing it on your plot means adding another folk diuretic and tonic to your medicine cabinet.
This cute and, most importantly, unpretentious plant will decorate any garden or pond and also has useful properties, so every gardener will certainly enjoy growing such a modest flower.
Plant loosestrife (lat. Lysimachia)- a genus of herbaceous perennials, annuals and biennials of the Primrose family. The plant is called loosestrife for the similarity of its leaves to the leaves of willow - this is what all types of willow were called in Rus'. The scientific name of the plant was given in honor of Lysimachus, one of the generals of Alexander the Great, who later became the ruler of Thrace and the king of Macedonia. For a long time it was mistakenly believed that it was he who discovered loosestrife. The genus consists of more than one hundred species. Most loosestrife species grow in the Northern Hemisphere, particularly in North America and East Asia - more than seventy loosestrife species grow in China. Some species grow in South America and South Africa. Loosestrife is found in the Caucasus, the European part of Russia and Central Asia.
Read more about growing loosestrife below.
Loosestrife grass is represented by annual, perennial and biennial plants with erect or creeping stems, simple, alternate, entire, whorled or opposite leaves. Loosestrife blooms with white, yellow or pinkish flowers, single axillary or collected in spike-shaped or corymbose panicles. The loosestrife fruit is a spherical or ovoid capsule. Loosestrife is related to plants such as cyclamen, laticifer, ambilanthus and primrose.
Loosestrife is an unpretentious plant and, despite its unpretentious appearance, is in demand in gardening: the flowering of loosestrife is distinguished by its abundance and duration. Planting loosestrife and caring for it will not seem labor-intensive to you. This article will describe planting and caring for common loosestrife, since it is the base species of the genus, especially since planting and caring for coin loosestrife or planting and caring for point loosestrife, as well as planting and caring for lily of the valley loosestrife have much in common with growing common loosestrife.
Loosestrife can be propagated by seeds and vegetative methods. Sow loosestrife seeds in the ground in June or September, before winter.
Almost all types of loosestrife grow best in shade or partial shade, and coin loosestrife, although it prefers the shade of trees, feels great in the sun. And only purple loosestrife prefers open sunny places.
Loosestrife needs fertile, loose and moist areas with close groundwater, and species such as loosestrife, loosestrife, and common loosestrife can simply be planted in a reservoir to a depth of 10 cm. The composition of the soil for loosestrife is not of fundamental importance; it does not like only clay soils. Loosestrife is planted in soil fertilized with well-rotted manure or compost.
Loosestrife is planted like any other plant: the root system is placed in a hole, after which it is covered with soil, the surface of the area is compacted and watered. The distance between loosestrife bushes should be at least half a meter.
Planting and caring for loosestrife in open ground does not require much effort. Growing in moist soils, the plant frees you from the need to moisten the soil. The plant will only need to be watered during periods of prolonged absence of rain.
Caring for loosestrife does not involve fertilizing during the growing season, and only at the end of autumn it is necessary to fertilize the soil with humus.
Loosestrife is an invasive plant, especially species such as mottled loosestrife, ciliated loosestrife and racemosa. If you do not dig restrictions in the form of sheets of slate, plastic or metal around the bushes of the plant, it will spread throughout the garden. When the loosestrife has finished blooming, remove the faded inflorescences, and in the fall, trim the stems of erect loosestrife.
Each type of loosestrife has its own flowering time, and the flowers have their own degree of decorativeness, and we will tell you how and when this or that loosestrife blooms in the section on plant types and varieties.
Growing loosestrife involves timely transplantation of the plant. Loosestrife can grow in one place in the garden for up to 10 years, but within two years after planting you will have a developed bush with many children that just need to be planted. Transplantation is carried out in early spring or autumn after leaf fall.
Loosestrife is surprisingly resistant to all such problems. The only trouble that can happen to it is an attack by aphids, but in this case you can always purchase the appropriate drug in the store - for example, Biotlin or Antitlin.
As already mentioned, loosestrife propagates by seeds and vegetatively - by dividing the bush, cuttings and root shoots. But experience shows that vegetative methods of propagating loosestrife are more reliable than seed propagation, especially since loosestrife from seeds blooms only 2-3 years after germination. Before sowing at the end of May or beginning of June, loosestrife seeds must be stratified for one and a half to two months in the vegetable drawer of the refrigerator. Before autumn sowing, there is no need to treat the seeds with cold - in the winter soil they will undergo natural stratification, and in the spring you will see friendly shoots. You can use the seedling seed method: stratified seeds are sown on the surface of a moist substrate consisting of sand and peat, covered with glass and kept at a temperature of 15 ºC in a bright place. In ten to fourteen days, seedlings will appear, and when they get stronger, they are planted in separate containers and, after hardening procedures, planted in open ground in June, keeping an interval of 50 cm between seedlings.
In early spring or autumn, during transplantation, loosestrife can be propagated by dividing the bush. The loosestrife is dug up, the children are separated, then the bush itself is divided into parts so that each section has developed roots and shoots, after which all parts are planted. All these plants will bloom next year. Care for the planted parts as for an adult plant.
Monetary loosestrife is most often propagated by cuttings 10-20 cm long. Cuttings are carried out during autumn pruning or in spring. The cuttings are lowered into water with the lower cut, and after roots form on them, the cuttings are planted in loose, moist soil in a shady area.
We have already written that after flowering, the wilted loosestrife inflorescences are removed, and in the fall, the stems of erect species are also cut off, after which humus or compost is added to the plants. All types of loosestrife overwinter without shelter - they tolerate winter cold well.
We offer you a description of the most famous cultivated species of loosestrife and their best varieties.
- a herbaceous perennial, common in nature in meadows, near swamps, along the banks of reservoirs and in the forests of Eurasia and North Africa. It has a creeping rhizome and an erect stem 50 to 100 cm high. The leaves of the common loosestrife are entire, lanceolate, opposite or whorled, smooth above, pubescent below. Yellow bell-shaped flowers with a red-brown spot at the base of the corolla, collected in apical panicles, open in June-August. This type of loosestrife is a honey plant. It is not afraid of waterlogging and can grow directly in water at a depth of 10 cm.
grows in Europe near rivers and reservoirs, rising from the foothills to the subalpine zone. It is a perennial up to 30 cm high with large wide leaves and single yellow flowers on long stalks. Flowering of this species begins in May and lasts about two months.
or snork grows along the banks of reservoirs and in shallow waters. It has a creeping rhizome and straight, strong stems up to 60 cm high. The leaves are narrow, lanceolate, often planted. Small yellow flowers, seemingly fluffy due to protruding stamens, are collected in dense axillary inflorescences up to 3 cm long. Flowering of this species begins in late May or early June.
grows in the forests of Western and Central Europe. It has a long rhizome, at the end of which there is a whorl of 4-6 underground shoots, pubescent erect stems with sessile broad-lanceolate leaves and lemon-yellow flowers located on the slightly branched tip of the stem. Flowering begins in late June or early July and lasts about a month. This type of loosestrife prefers well-lit places. The best varieties of common loosestrife:
originally from China. This is yellow loosestrife - this is how it looks because of the abundance of golden-yellow flowers with a red stroke at the base of the petals. The foliage of the plant is juicy and dense, bright green. This species became known not so long ago - in 1992. The best varieties of this species:
or loosestrife grows in the south of Primorsky Krai. It has a pinkish-white rhizome, like a lily of the valley, but somewhat thicker, an erect, pubescent and leafy stem up to 20 cm high and small snow-white flowers collected in a dense spike-shaped inflorescence up to 20 cm long. Flowering begins at the end of June and lasts 2-3 weeks. This species has been in culture since the end of the last century. The most famous varieties:
or coin loosestrife, or meadow loosestrife, or moneywort - a widespread species in Europe, Japan and North America, growing in floodplain meadows, in shady groves, along the banks of rivers, reservoirs and on the outskirts of swamps. This is a groundcover loosestrife, a perennial with a recumbent stem up to 30 cm long and opposite oval short-petioled leaves up to 2.5 cm long. The flowers of plants of this species are axillary, solitary, yellow, up to 2.5 cm in diameter. The beginning of flowering depends on the light, but on in sunny areas it begins at the end of May or June. Monarch loosestrife forms a cover not only on horizontal surfaces, but also on steep slopes. One of the most famous varieties of the species is Aurea loosestrife - less winter-hardy than the main species, with yellowish-green leaves.
or ciliated loosestrife (Lysimachia ciliata), grows naturally in North America. It is an erect perennial up to 45 cm high with paired wide-lanceolate wine-red leaves. The flowers of this species are axillary, apical, small, yellow-lemon, collected in a loose inflorescence. Flowering begins in August. Purple loosestrife prefers open, sunny places.
originally from Greece. This is a perennial 45-90 cm high with stunningly beautiful spike-shaped inflorescences, consisting of many flowers of a dark wine, almost black color. The edges of the green leaves are decorated with light corrugation, especially noticeable in young plants. This loosestrife blooms at the end of July. The most famous variety is Beaujolais, with dark purple flowers.
grows naturally in Southwestern Europe. This is a frost-resistant perennial up to 90 cm high, which actively grows in width. By the end of summer, flowers appear on the plants, collected in spike-shaped inflorescences. The species has been in culture since the 19th century.
Common loosestrife has wound-healing, astringent, hemostatic and analgesic effects, but despite this, official medicine is indifferent to loosestrife. But in folk medicine, the plant is used to eliminate diarrhea and internal bleeding, as well as to treat long-term non-healing festering wounds, eczema, stomatitis and thrush.
To stop internal bleeding, use loosestrife infusion: pour a tablespoon of dry leaves into a glass of boiling water, infuse, filter and take 1-2 tablespoons three times a day before meals.
After a serious illness, to restore strength, use loosestrife tincture: pour 2 tablespoons of fresh herbs into a glass of vodka, cap tightly, leave in a dark place for 3-4 days, filter and drink 20 drops 3-4 times a day.
This tea helps with headaches and colds: take a tablespoon of chamomile flowers, rosemary leaves and loosestrife herb, steam with two glasses of boiling water, let steep for a few minutes and drink.
Preparations from loosestrife are contraindicated for patients with vascular sclerosis of the extremities, varicose veins, thrombosis, people with high blood pressure and increased blood clotting. Loosestrife is also not used for dry coughs in children.
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Loosestrife is a herbaceous plant of the Primrose family. It is most often grown as a perennial plant, but it can be biennial or annual.
It is an erect stem with leaves of various shapes and a scattering of yellow, pink or white flowers, depending on the species. The main advantage is the abundance and duration of the flowering period.
– has a creeping root system. It reaches a height of 0.5-1 m. The leaves are lanceolate, opposite, the upper surface is smooth, while the lower one has some pubescence. The flowers are yellow, bell-shaped, and collected in apical panicles. The flowering period occurs in the summer months.
– reaches 0.3 m in height, and has large leaves and single yellow flowers located on long stalks. Flowering occurs from May to the end of June.
- has erect stems 0.5-0.6 m high. The leaves are lanceolate, narrow, and small yellow flowers are collected in axillary apical inflorescences, which have a fluffy shape due to the fact that the stamens are longer than the flower itself.
– has yellow flowers located on slightly branched stems. Depending on the variety of loosestrife, the leaves have a white border along the edge (variety " Alexander ") or a gold border (grade " Golden Alexander »).
- Known for its abundance of yellow flowers and bright green leaves. Popular varieties: " Lissie " - the inflorescences have the shape of a ball, " Persian rug " - a distinctive feature is the presence of red veins on dark green leaves, " Persian chocolate " has purple foliage, and the variety " Outback Sunset "Characterized by the presence of a yellow stripe on the leaves.
- a herbaceous plant with white inflorescences. Known varieties: " Lady Jane " - height 0.5-0.9 m, and " Geisha "—has a creamy leaf frame.
(coin or meadow) - this species is a ground cover with a recumbent creeping stem (about 0.3 m long). Single yellow flowers reach about 25 mm in diameter.
(ciliated) – the leaves of this species are paired, lanceolate, purple-red in color. The flowers are apical, collected in a loose lemon-colored inflorescence.
– Its obvious difference from other species is that its spike-shaped inflorescence has dark red, almost black, flowers.
- a herbaceous plant that often grows greatly in breadth, with the flowers located on spike-shaped stems-inflorescences.
There are no special requirements for the choice of soil, the main thing is that it is not a clay composition, but the presence of moisture is a prerequisite. Sometimes it is planted directly near bodies of water or in lowlands where water often stagnates.
For this reason, during planting, you should not deepen the rhizome too much; 10-12 cm is enough. In addition, if it is not possible to ensure natural soil moisture, then watering should be frequent and plentiful, as soon as the top layer of soil dries out.
As for lighting, the main types of loosestrife prefer a slight darkening, with the exception of the purple loosestrife, which loves well-lit areas, otherwise the leaves may lose their decorative effect (they will just be green), but the lily of the valley and coin-shaped species prefer the opposite - strong darkening.
The plant tolerates wintering quite easily, so there is no need for additional shelter.
Only upright species need pruning. At the end of autumn they are pruned at the root and fertilized. Do not forget that after the inflorescences have faded, they must be torn off to give the plant a rest.
In addition, some types of loosestrife can be pleasing to the eye even without inflorescences, due to the decorative nature of the foliage.
You should not overdo it with fertilizing, since loosestrife grows well anyway, so fertilizing is carried out if the soil is very poor (one of the signs may be slow growth or pale, sparse flowering).
It is enough to apply fertilizer once, in early spring. At the same time, you can loosen the soil and mulch the area around each bush, which will help retain moisture in the soil for a longer period.
But after the end of the growing season, at the end of autumn, the soil around the bushes is loosened. The main thing is not to damage the rhizome when digging, since it is close to the surface.
Loosestrife can be propagated by seeds, cuttings, root suckers and rhizome division.
The seed propagation method is used extremely rarely, due to the fact that flowering occurs only in the second or even third year after planting. In addition, it is necessary to stratify the seeds in the refrigerator (not in the freezer) in advance (2 months in advance).
After stratification, seeds can be sown directly in open ground, or by first growing seedlings. Planting takes place either in early June or in September. If you use late planting (before wintering), then stratification may not be carried out, since a natural process will occur during winter frosts.
It is best to divide the bush (rhizome) in the spring, before young leaves begin to appear, or in the fall, after flowering has ended.
The divisions are planted at a distance of no closer than 30-40 cm from each other, taking into account the fact that the plant grows quickly.
By cuttings you can propagate such types of loosestrife as, for example, mint. Cuttings are cut during autumn or spring pruning.
Shoots 10-15 cm long are placed in a container with water, and after roots appear, they are planted in loose, drained and moist soil (open if in spring, or in pots if in autumn). It is better to shade young plants at first.
Aphid - this is the pest that can still be found on this flower.
In the fight against it, a drug such as Antitlin, which can be purchased at a flower shop, has proven itself best. If this is not found, you can use any substitute, the main thing is to detect it in time and begin treatment.
Friends, turn your attention to coin or coin loosestrife. This herbaceous plant for open ground came to me by accident. The seller said: “Yes, take it, you won’t regret it.” And I just liked the yellow, star-like flowers and delicate golden linden-colored leaves. First I brought it home, and then I just found out how to plant it, what care is required and what to do with loosestrife in winter.
Loosestrife loves moist soil, and usually grows near bodies of water, on occasion, dipping even its lashes into the water, while the leaves remain elastic and tender.
My son grows it on a shady hill, the golden color is adjacent to the dark burgundy tenacity, very beautiful.
And it grows well on my balcony in pots, although watering is a hassle.
Loosestrife is grown
A specimen obtained from seeds blooms in the third year; the seeds are sown indoors.
The shoots take root in the nodes, the seals of the stem at the places where the leaves are attached. A section of the stem needs to be dug in and the moist soil will do its job - roots will appear in 5-7 days.
You can root the shoots all season long.
The loosestrife bush is divided in the fall, when there are no more young shoots. Although they sold me a plant with a lump of earth in the spring and already with flowers.
Loosestrife blooms from May to August; the time and timing of flowering depend on the location of the bush.
Loosestrife grows well in the sun, shade and partial shade. The plant is a ground cover plant, spreading its canes up to 80 cm. Looks great on vertical rocky slopes. The root system is aggressive, which is why it is popularly called snake root. When planting locally, you need to monitor the growing root system and cut off the roots, limiting growth. Otherwise, it will take over neighboring areas.
The owners say that it tends to settle like a weed among the lawn grass. Although some designers recommend this ground cover instead of a lawn, it is not trampled and does not need to be cut, but you should not do this, since by autumn it will begin to change color due to the drying out of individual branches and the lawn will look untidy.
It is planted in loose soil, with a bottom drainage layer. Place crushed stone under the top layer of soil in which you plan to plant.
It would be good near a pond or near groundwater, but, I repeat, it grows excellently in a pot and in the sun.
Caring for coin loosestrife is simple. If it grows near water, then watering is needed only in dry times. And it doesn’t need any other care.
If the plant is planted in poor soil, you will need to apply fertilizer once every 2-3 weeks and only from May to July, so that the plant grows and begins to spread along the ground.
Loosestrife can grow in one place for more than 10 years, but the top layer of soil needs to be updated.
Important: Preparation for winter consists of trimming the vines so that only the lower part of the stems remains at the top. Dry parts should be removed.
The plant is frost-resistant. Before winter, all the vines are cut off, so that only the underground part remains, so it does not freeze.
In my case, this is what happened. Snow fell suddenly last year and I was too lazy to go out onto the cold and snowy balcony. The pots were already wrapped from below in advance, and I felt sorry for cutting off the green vines, because it was warm before the unexpected snowfall and I didn’t want to remove the beauty from the balcony. Therefore, the pots spent the winter covered with dry loosestrife branches.
And now, look how the kids made their way. This is so touching.
The plant is used as a ground cover and as a hanging plant, capable of beautifully decorating walls and slopes.
Among the perennial medicinal plants, loosestrife stands out. It attracts many gardeners because it is easy and simple to care for and propagate. The plant is ideal for landscaping in the garden.
There are many types of loosestrife, and each requires some care, even if it is simple.
Loosestrife belongs to the primrose family, a genus of herbaceous perennial, biennial and annual plants. The homeland of most species is considered to be Eurasia, as well as America and Africa. The flowers of this plant have unusual beauty and beneficial properties. It is divided into a large number of types. Experts divide them depending on adaptation to certain natural zones or distribution in wild conditions.
There are about 100 species of this plant, most of which came to Europe from China. Despite the large number of species, only a few are used in landscape design.
It has a long and branching rhizome, and the stem is erect or creeping. Whorled, alternate or opposite leaves grow on the stems. Loosestrife flowers can be of several colors:
On the branches they are located in several pieces in the axils of the leaves or singly. In some species, flowers are collected in paniculate inflorescences. After flowering, the plant produces a fruit - a capsule with seeds.
Perennials require special attention when planting, despite the fact that many of them are considered low-maintenance. It is best to choose a place in partial shade in open areas. All varieties of this popular plant grow and reproduce well. Experienced gardeners recommend planting loosestrife at least once every 2-3 years.
The soil where the seedling is planned to be planted must be well moistened. Soil moisture during planting is very important for the further development of the plant.
When landing, the following rules must be observed:
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