Lysimachia quadrifolia
Common Name(s):
Previously known as:
- Lysimachia punctata
- Phonetic Spelling
- lis-ih-MAK-ee-ah kwad-ree-FOH-lee-uh
- Description
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Whorled Loosestrife is a flowering, herbaceous perennial in the Primulaceae (primrose) family. It grows in moist fields, clearings, hardwood forests, roadsides, rocky slopes, and seashores at elevations up to 1000 meters. In North Carolina it is found in a wide variety of forests and open areas, including pine savannas of the outer Coastal Plain, ranging from moist to very dry. It is common in North Carolina’s Mountains and Piedmont but uncommon in the Coastal Plain.
Whorled Loosestrife is a rhizomatous plant reaching 2 to 3 feet in height with attractive whorled leaves around an upright stem. Yellow flowers with a red center form on stalks at the leaf axis. Flowers may have red margins with maroon or black streaked resin canals.
This plant prefers sunny, consistently moist soils, but tolerates partial sun, drier sites, and a wide range of soil types including heavy clay. It spreads by long, shallow roots that spread along the ground and by seed, but the spread is not too vigorous. It has a limited ability to compete with other vegetation. Seeds must be sown on top of soil as they require light to germinate.
Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems:
No serious diseases or pest problems.
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Lysimachia
- Species:
- quadrifolia
- Family:
- Primulaceae
- Uses (Ethnobotany):
- The Cherokee used this plant to treat kidney and urinary conditions. American colonists are said to have fed the plant to pairs of oxen so that they would work together peacefully.
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Division
- Seed
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Ontario and Manitoba Canada; Eastern United States.
- Distribution:
- Eastern Canada and United States south to North Carolina.
- Wildlife Value:
- Members of the genus Lysimachia support the following specialized bees: Macropis (Macropis) ciliata, Macropis (Macropis) patellata, and Macropis (Macropis) steironematis.
- Play Value:
- Attracts Pollinators
- Colorful
- Easy to Grow
- Dimensions:
- Height: 0 ft. 9 in. - 2 ft. 6 in.
- Width: 1 ft. 0 in. - 2 ft. 0 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Herbaceous Perennial
- Native Plant
- Wildflower
- Habit/Form:
- Ascending
- Erect
- Maintenance:
- Low
- Texture:
- Medium
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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
- Loam (Silt)
- Sand
- Soil pH:
- Acid (<6.0)
- Alkaline (>8.0)
- Neutral (6.0-8.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Moist
- Occasionally Dry
- Available Space To Plant:
- 12 inches-3 feet
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- Mountains
- Piedmont
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b
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Fruit:
- Fruit Type:
- Capsule
- Fruit Length:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Width:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Description:
- Dry seed capsule opens to drop seeds. Fruit displays from August to October.
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Gold/Yellow
- Red/Burgundy
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Head
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Long Bloom Season
- Showy
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Summer
- Flower Shape:
- Star
- Flower Petals:
- 4-5 petals/rays
- Flower Size:
- < 1 inch
- Flower Description:
- 1/2 inch wide flowers have long stalks and arise from the leaf axils with 1 flower per axil. Flowers are star-shaped with 5 yellow petals with a reddish eye. The five stamens are united at the base by a fleshy band that is attached to the petals, giving them the appearance of an upright tube. Flowers may have a reddish margin and may have a dark-streaked resin canal (maroon or black). Flowers bloom from July to August.
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Leaves:
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Opposite
- Whorled
- Leaf Shape:
- Elliptical
- Lanceolate
- Ovate
- Leaf Margin:
- Entire
- Hairs Present:
- Yes
- Leaf Length:
- 3-6 inches
- Leaf Width:
- 1-3 inches
- Leaf Description:
- The leaves are in a whorled pattern along the stem in groups of 4 to 5. They are oval to lance-shaped and 2 to 4 1/2 inches long and 1/2 to 1 1/2 inches wide. The leaves are pointed at the tip with little to no stem at the base. The margins and undersides have scattered fine hairs. Opposite, linear primary leaves appear along the stems. The margins of these leaves are toothless and usually curled under. Secondary leaves are similar to the primary leaves, except they are smaller and they always linear in shape.
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Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Green
- Red/Burgundy
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Cross Section:
- Angular
- Stem Surface:
- Smooth (glabrous)
- Stem Description:
- Erect unbranched central stem is light green to red, terete or angular, and hairless. The upper half of the plant often branches, producing lateral stems similar to the central.
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Meadow
- Naturalized Area
- Pond
- Slope/Bank
- Woodland
- Landscape Theme:
- Cottage Garden
- Native Garden
- Pollinator Garden
- Rain Garden
- Rock Garden
- Design Feature:
- Border
- Mass Planting
- Attracts:
- Pollinators
- Specialized Bees
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Dry Soil
- Rabbits
