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Lysimachia (ly-sih-MAH-kee-uh)

Common Name:  Loosestrife, moneywort, creeping Jenny

Light:  - Part sun to part shade

Soil:  Average to rich, moist but well-drained

Moisture:  Average to slightly moist, however they tend to grow slower in drier conditions

Blooms:  Summer

Zones:  varies by type


Lysimachia clethroides

Lysimachia nummularia 'Aurea'

Lysimachia Description and Cultural Information

Lysimachia clethroides, goose-neck loosestrife. (24 - 36") This plant has leafy, erect stems and graceful, drooping tips covered with tiny white flowers. They are neat in that all of the flowers tend to reach out towards the sun in the same direction, giving a cascading appearance. Although it can be very pretty it is unfortunately a fast running plant with the ability to spread over a large area in a short time. Plant with care. Zones 3 - 9.

Lysimachia nummularia, moneywort, creeping Jenny. (2") This low growing, fast spreading groundcover has small round leaves and small yellow flowers. It can easily be invasive. Do not plant it with other low growing plants as it may grow thick enough to smother their smaller neighbors. The variety 'Aurea' has golden yellow foliage and is slightly less invasive than the species. Zones 3 - 8.

Lysimachia punctata, yellow loosestrife. (24 - 30") Yellow loosestrife has leafy, upright stems covered in yellow flowers in the summer. It can be very invasive although a sweeping meadow of the plant would look spectacular. The variety 'Alexander' has yellow flowers and white margined foliage that emerges green, cream, and pink in the spring. It is not quite as invasive as the species but should still be kept in check. 'Golden Alexander' has yellow margined foliage. Zones 4 - 8.

How to Grow:  Plant loosestrife in average to rich, evenly-moist soil in full sun to part shade. They do very well along streams and ponds, sometimes too well, but also perform fine in the average garden. Although they are drought tolerant for short periods of time they prefer regular watering and the foliage may brown or burn if it gets too dry. Propagate from cuttings or division at just about any time during the growing season. Regular maintenance will be required to control their spread, so be very careful where you plant them.

Landscape uses:  Lysimachia can be useful as groundcovers, especially in moist soil. The key is to have a plan to stop or control their spread. Creeping Jenny works best in small contained areas or in hanging baskets. Plant yellow loosestrife with other moisture loving plants such as Acorus, Darmera, ferns, Hosta, Siberian, Japanese, Louisiana and yellow flag Iris, Rodgersia, Ligularia, or Symphytum. Plant goose-neck loosestrife in the partially shaded garden in slightly dry soil to help slow their spread.

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