Lysimachia clethroides
gooseneck loosestrife
primulaceae
Nodding gooseneck-shaped racemes of
small white flowers; elliptical green leaves
that turn red in fall
2–3 ft. high; 3–4 ft. wide
Full sun–part shade
Blooms June–July
Zones 3–8
pruning Gooseneck loosestrife is a
charming but some would say
wickedly aggressive perennial plant
that will choke out its neighbors via a
network of underground runners if
allowed to infiltrate beds or borders.
Landscape beds surrounded by paving
or large containers are the only places
for it that won’t result in a mainte-
nance nightmare, and in those
situations the only pruning needed
will be to cut down the stems in late
fall. In some situations gooseneck
loosestrife might deserve consider-
ation for planting in open ground as a
weed-suppressing monoculture. In
that case its spread into surrounding
turf could be controlled by mowing. In
large-scale loosestrife plantings, the
late fall cleanup in preparation for
winter may also call for the use of
power tools, as the stems on this plant
can become rather woody by the end of
the season.
other maintenance This plant
grows most lushly (and spreads most
quickly) on moist ground. Water may
be withheld to check its vigor, but in
overly dry conditions the foliage will
fade and wilt, eventually browning on
the edges. Full sun gives the most
prolific flowering, although plants
perform admirably in part shade, too.
related plantS Lysimachia
clethroides ‘Geisha’ features foliage
with wide irregular margins of creamy
yellow on 2-ft. plants. Its growth is
greatly slowed by the reduction of
chlorophyll, and it may safely join
other plants in the border without fear
of a hostile takeover. ‘Heronswood
Gold’ has solid yellow leaves and also
grows at a moderate rate. It benefits
from afternoon shade in hot climates.Lysimachia clethroides