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Lysimachia punctata

Phonetic Spelling
lis-ih-MAK-ee-ah punk-TAY-tah
Description

Dotted loosestrife is an herbaceous, perennial flower in the Primulaceae (primrose) family.  It is native to Asia and southern/central Europe.   It was introduced into North America for ornamental gardens but has naturalized widely in the U.S. and Canada in damp, sunny areas such as ditches, meadows, roadsides and stream banks. It is a tall, erect, rhizomatous plant reaching 3 feet in height, forming large mounding colonies with attractive whorled leaves.  A spike of yellow flowers with an orange-red center blooms from late spring to fall.  It is best utilized as a naturalized groundcover in wild gardens or remote beds or borders where aggressive, unwanted spread into lawns or other perennial beds is not a concern. It primarily spreads through rhizomes but may also self-seed.  This plant prefers rich, moist, well-drained soils in full sun to part shade. Growth is less aggressive in dry, shady soils.

The species name means spotted.

 

See this plant in the following landscape:
Davidson County Extension Demonstration Garden
Cultivars / Varieties:
Tags:
#full sun tolerant#specialized bees#aggressive#summer flowers#pollinator plant#bee friendly#perennial#weed#wildlife friendly
 
Cultivars / Varieties:
Tags:
#full sun tolerant#specialized bees#aggressive#summer flowers#pollinator plant#bee friendly#perennial#weed#wildlife friendly
  • Attributes:
    Genus:
    Lysimachia
    Species:
    punctata
    Family:
    Primulaceae
    Life Cycle:
    Perennial
    Recommended Propagation Strategy:
    Division
    Seed
    Country Or Region Of Origin:
    Eastern Central & South Eastern Europe to Northern Iran, Asia
    Distribution:
    U.S. (AL, AR, CO, CT, DE, D.C., FL, GA, ID, IL, IA, KS, KY, ME, MD, MA, MI, MN, MS, MO, MT, NE, NJ, NJ, NM, NY, NC, ND, OH, OK, OR, PA, RI, SC, SD, TN, UT, VT, VA, WA, WV, WI, WY); Canada
    Wildlife Value:
    Members of the genus Lysimachia support the following specialized bees: Macropis (Macropis) ciliata, Macropis (Macropis) patellata, and Macropis (Macropis) steironematis.
    Play Value:
    Attractive Flowers
    Attracts Pollinators
    Colorful
    Easy to Grow
    Textural
    Dimensions:
    Height: 2 ft. 0 in. - 4 ft. 0 in.
    Width: 1 ft. 0 in. - 1 ft. 6 in.
  • Whole Plant Traits:
    Plant Type:
    Ground Cover
    Herbaceous Perennial
    Perennial
    Habit/Form:
    Erect
    Growth Rate:
    Medium
    Maintenance:
    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:
    Clay
    High Organic Matter
    Loam (Silt)
    Sand
    Soil pH:
    Acid (<6.0)
    Alkaline (>8.0)
    Neutral (6.0-8.0)
    Soil Drainage:
    Good Drainage
    Moist
    NC Region:
    Coastal
    Mountains
    Piedmont
    USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
    4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b
  • Fruit:
    Fruit Color:
    Red/Burgundy
    Fruit Type:
    Capsule
    Fruit Length:
    < 1 inch
    Fruit Width:
    < 1 inch
  • Flowers:
    Flower Color:
    Gold/Yellow
    Flower Inflorescence:
    Head
    Spike
    Flower Value To Gardener:
    Long Bloom Season
    Showy
    Flower Bloom Time:
    Fall
    Spring
    Summer
    Flower Shape:
    Cup
    Flower Petals:
    4-5 petals/rays
    Flower Size:
    < 1 inch
    Flower Description:
    Cup-shaped, 1-inch flowers have 5 bright yellow petals with an orange-red center. Petals have fine hairs. Flowers are arranged on spikes and bloom on short pedicles in the leaf axis from May to September.
  • Leaves:
    Leaf Color:
    Green
    Leaf Feel:
    Velvety
    Leaf Value To Gardener:
    Showy
    Leaf Type:
    Simple
    Leaf Arrangement:
    Whorled
    Leaf Shape:
    Lanceolate
    Ovate
    Leaf Margin:
    Entire
    Serrate
    Hairs Present:
    Yes
    Leaf Length:
    1-3 inches
    Leaf Width:
    1-3 inches
    Leaf Description:
    The lance to ovate shaped leaves are up to 3 inches long and grow in whorls of 3-4 leaves.
  • Stem:
    Stem Color:
    Green
    Stem Is Aromatic:
    No
    Stem Surface:
    Hairy (pubescent)
  • Landscape:
    Landscape Location:
    Meadow
    Naturalized Area
    Pond
    Pool/Hardscape
    Riparian
    Slope/Bank
    Woodland
    Landscape Theme:
    Asian Garden
    Children's Garden
    Cottage Garden
    Pollinator Garden
    Rain Garden
    Design Feature:
    Border
    Mass Planting
    Attracts:
    Butterflies
    Pollinators
    Specialized Bees
    Resistance To Challenges:
    Wet Soil
    Problems:
    Weedy