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Fringed Loosestrife Lysimachia ciliata

Other Common Name(s):

Phonetic Spelling
ly-sih-MAK-ee-ah sil-ee-AY-tah
Description

Fringed Loosestrife is an herbaceous perennial wildflower in the Primulaceae (primrose) family.  It is native to North America across southern Canada and much of the U.S., including Alaska and most of the lower 48 states. It inhabits wetlands, swamps, marshes, pond edges, moist deciduous woods, roadsides, stream banks, bogs, flood plains, and wet prairies.  Fringed Loosestrife is one of the most commonly found Lysimachia species.   In some areas, populations are declining due to loss of wetland habitat.  This plant’s scientific name is derived from the hairs that grow along its petioles, distinguishing it from other Lysimachia species.  It has an upright habit with little branching, and star-shaped yellow flowers that produce a floral oil, rather than pollen, which attracts pollinators.

Plant in full sun to light shade in wet to moist conditions, in a loamy soil high in organic matter. It is suitable as a bedding or border plant in wet sites or along streams and ponds. Flowers bloom in mid-summer to early fall with a few to many flowers open at one time. This plant reproduces through rhizomes and seed capsules.

Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems:  No serious problems, but some destructive insects feed on certain parts of this Loosestrife (leafhoppers, sawfly, leaf miners and others).

 

See this plant in the following landscape:
Cultivars / Varieties:
Tags:
#showy flowers#deciduous#full sun tolerant#rain garden#fall flowers#yellow flowers#pond margins#NC native#summer flowers#native wildflower#larval host plant#food source fall#food source herbage#food source nectar#food source pollen#Coastal FACW#Piedmont Mountains FACW#wet soils tolerant#bird friendly#mammals#partial shade tolerant#bee friendly#Audubon#boggy sites
 
Cultivars / Varieties:
Tags:
#showy flowers#deciduous#full sun tolerant#rain garden#fall flowers#yellow flowers#pond margins#NC native#summer flowers#native wildflower#larval host plant#food source fall#food source herbage#food source nectar#food source pollen#Coastal FACW#Piedmont Mountains FACW#wet soils tolerant#bird friendly#mammals#partial shade tolerant#bee friendly#Audubon#boggy sites
  • Attributes:
    Genus:
    Lysimachia
    Species:
    ciliata
    Family:
    Primulaceae
    Uses (Ethnobotany):
    Medicinally this plant is largely astringent with some diaphoretic (promoting sweating and perspiration) and emetic (causing vomiting) properties. The live plant is said to repel gnats and flies. Some people will use a smudge fire of this plant as an effective repellant for flies during the summer.
    Life Cycle:
    Perennial
    Recommended Propagation Strategy:
    Seed
    Country Or Region Of Origin:
    Canada to U.S.A
    Distribution:
    Que. to B.C., s. to FL, TX & CO. USA: AK, AL, AR, CO, CT, DC, DE, FL, GA, IA, ID, IL, IN, KS, KY, MA, MD, ME, MI, MN, MO, MS, MT, NC, ND, NE, NH, NJ, NM, NY, OH, OK, OR, PA, RI, SC, SD, TN, UT, VA, VT, WA, WI, WV, WY. Canada: AB, BC, MB, NB, NS, NU, ON, PE, QC, SK
    Wildlife Value:
    Attracts Melittid bees (Macropis steironematis) which only feed on Lysimachia species.
    Edibility:
    The cooked leaves of this plant are said to be edible.
    Dimensions:
    Height: 1 ft. 0 in. - 4 ft. 0 in.
    Width: 1 ft. 0 in. - 2 ft. 0 in.
  • Whole Plant Traits:
    Plant Type:
    Herbaceous Perennial
    Native Plant
    Wildflower
    Habit/Form:
    Erect
    Spreading
    Texture:
    Medium
  • Cultural Conditions:
    Light:
    Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
    Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
    Soil Texture:
    High Organic Matter
    Loam (Silt)
    Soil pH:
    Acid (<6.0)
    Neutral (6.0-8.0)
    Soil Drainage:
    Good Drainage
    Moist
    Occasional Flooding
    Occasionally Wet
    Available Space To Plant:
    12 inches-3 feet
    NC Region:
    Coastal
    Mountains
    Piedmont
    USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
    3a, 3b, 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b
  • Fruit:
    Fruit Color:
    Green
    Fruit Type:
    Capsule
    Fruit Length:
    < 1 inch
    Fruit Width:
    < 1 inch
    Fruit Description:
    The seed capsule is green and shiny and contains several seeds. Fruit displays from August to October.
  • Flowers:
    Flower Color:
    Gold/Yellow
    Flower Inflorescence:
    Panicle
    Flower Value To Gardener:
    Long Bloom Season
    Flower Bloom Time:
    Fall
    Summer
    Flower Shape:
    Star
    Flower Petals:
    4-5 petals/rays
    Flower Size:
    < 1 inch
    Flower Description:
    Individual flowers, one-half to one inch, nodding downward, yellow blooms with 5 petals on 3 inch stems with short hairs. The center of the petals is often reddish. Flowers bloom from May to September.
  • Leaves:
    Leaf Color:
    Green
    Leaf Type:
    Simple
    Leaf Arrangement:
    Opposite
    Leaf Shape:
    Lanceolate
    Leaf Margin:
    Entire
    Hairs Present:
    Yes
    Leaf Length:
    3-6 inches
    Leaf Width:
    1-3 inches
    Leaf Description:
    Leaves occur in pairs in opposite arrangement along the stem and are up to 6 inches long and 2.5 inches wide with fine hairs along the edge. This species has hairs along the petioles which is a distinguishing feature.
  • Stem:
    Stem Color:
    Green
    Stem Is Aromatic:
    No
    Stem Cross Section:
    Angular
    Stem Form:
    Straight
    Stem Surface:
    Smooth (glabrous)
    Stem Description:
    Stems are erect, simple. Mostly unbranched but may have some.
  • Landscape:
    Landscape Location:
    Coastal
    Meadow
    Naturalized Area
    Pond
    Riparian
    Woodland
    Landscape Theme:
    Native Garden
    Pollinator Garden
    Rain Garden
    Design Feature:
    Border
    Mass Planting
    Attracts:
    Bees
    Pollinators
    Songbirds
    Resistance To Challenges:
    Wet Soil