Lysimachia punctata

When I was very young, still a gardening amateur, I used to be fascinated by a profusion of strong stems with vivid yellow flowers in early July, growing almost everywhere in small country gardens. They looked as if untouched and grew in neglected areas. Until one day when I was told that this pretty thing is nice when cared for, but once you neglect it it may become invasive and spread just everywhere it likes. It explained its occurrence but did not put me off from wanting it.

Yellow loosestrife is an attractive perennial with erect stems that are commonly 60-80 cm tall, exceptionally up to one meter tall under ideal conditions, bearing vivid yellow flowers from late June until mid to late July. Leaves are elliptic to lanceolate, mid green and appear all the way up to the top.

It is soil tolerant as far as pH. It prefers fertile, moist soil and withstands temporary waterlogging, rather than drought. Grow it in full sun or part shade. It is fully hardy to approx. -34°C (USD zone 4) and can be cultivated in outdoor pots.

Last update 03-02-2014.