Prairie Loosestrife Lysimachia quadrifolia
Other Common Name(s):
- Phonetic Spelling
- lis-ih-MAK-ee-ah kwad-ree-FOH-lee-uh
- Description
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Whorled Loosestrife is an herbaceous perennial in the Primulaceae (primrose) family native to eastern North America. 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. It is a tall, rhizomatous plant reaching 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.
It prefers sunny, moist soils but adapts to drier sites and a wide range of soil types. It spreads by rhizomes and seed but not too vigorously. Seeds must be sown on top of soil as they require light to germinate.
Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: No serious problems.
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Lysimachia
- Species:
- quadrifolia
- Family:
- Primulaceae
- Uses (Ethnobotany):
- The Cherokee used this plant to treat kidney and urinary conditions.
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Division
- Seed
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Eastern Canada to North Central & Eastern U.S.A
- Distribution:
- USA: AL, CT, D.C., DE, GA, IL, IN, KY, MA, MD, ME, MI, MN, NC, NH, NJ, NY, OH, OK, PA, RI, SC, TN, VA, VT, WI, WV Canada: NB, Ont, Que.
- 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: 1 ft. 0 in. - 3 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 1 ft. 0 in. - 2 ft. 0 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Native Plant
- Perennial
- Wildflower
- Habit/Form:
- Erect
- 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:
- 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 4-5 most of the time. They are oval to lance-shaped and 2 to 4.5 inches long and .5 to 1.5 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.
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Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Green
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Surface:
- Hairy (pubescent)
- Stem Description:
- Straight unbranched green stems, slightly pubescent
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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
