• Photo of Lysimachia clethroides (Lysimachia clethroidess)

Plant Profile: Lysimachia clethroides

Taxonomy: Lysimachia clethroides

Names

Gooseneck Loosestrife

  • Photo of Lysimachia clethroides (Lysimachia clethroidess)

Phonetic Spelling:lis-ih-MAK-ee-ah kleth-ROY-deez

Genus:Lysimachia

Species:clethroides

Family:Primulaceae

The Gooseneck Loosestrife features striking clusters of small, white flowers that are densely arranged on gracefully arching spikes. This plant is often cultivated for use as a cut flower. However, it has a tendency to become invasive due to its ability to spread through seeds and rhizomes, necessitating careful management to keep it in check.

To mitigate its spread, it’s advisable to plant it in areas surrounded by hard surfaces. Additionally, placing it in less favorable conditions, such as shaded spots or poor soil, can help control its growth. Regularly removing spent flowers, or deadheading, is also beneficial. In the spring, the plant's clumps can be divided to manage its size.

Lysimachia clethroides Feature Summary

Lysimachia clethroides Image Gallery

Tags

#white
#full sun tolerant
#perennial
#wildlife plant
#weedy
#nectar plant
#specialized bees
#spreading
#pollinator plant
#partial shade tolerant
#bee friendly

Similar Plants

Lysimachia clethroides Feature Summary

Attributes
Laos, Vietnam, Japan, Korea and Primorye
Members of the genus Lysimachia support the following specialized bees: Macropis (Macropis) ciliata, Macropis (Macropis) patellata, and Macropis (Macropis) steironematis.
Perennial
Flowers
Tiny white blooms, produced on arching flower spikes. Individual flowers are star-shaped and 1/2 inch wide. Blooms early to late summer.
Spring
Summer
4-5 petals/rays
< 1 inch
Leaves
3-6 inch long green leaves have pointed tips and are paler underneath.
Brown/Copper
Gold/Yellow
Ovate
Lanceolate
3-6 inches
1-3 inches
Whole Plant Traits
Perennial
Herbaceous Perennial
Cultural Conditions
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
Good Drainage
Coastal
Mountains
Piedmont
4a
4b
5b
5a
6a
6b
7a
7b
8b
8a
3a
3b
Landscape
Cutting Garden
Rain Garden
Shade Garden
Patio
Naturalized Area
Pool/Hardscape
Pond
Pollinators
Specialized Bees

Lysimachia clethroides Attributes

Lysimachia clethroides: Country Or Region Of Origin

Laos, Vietnam, Japan, Korea and Primorye

Lysimachia clethroides: Wildlife Value

Members of the genus Lysimachia support the following specialized bees: Macropis (Macropis) ciliata, Macropis (Macropis) patellata, and Macropis (Macropis) steironematis.

Lysimachia clethroides: Life Cycle

Annual
Biennial
Bulb
Perennial
Woody

Lysimachia clethroides: Recommended Propagation Strategy

Division
Grafting
Layering
Leaf Cutting
Root Cutting
Seed
Stem Cutting

Lysimachia clethroides Flowers

Lysimachia clethroides: Flower Description

Tiny white blooms, produced on arching flower spikes. Individual flowers are star-shaped and 1/2 inch wide. Blooms early to late summer.

Lysimachia clethroides: Flower Color

filter_vintage
White

Lysimachia clethroides: Flower Inflorescence

Catkin
Corymb
Cyme
Head
Insignificant
Panicle
Raceme
Solitary
Spadix
Spike
Umbel

Lysimachia clethroides: Flower Value To Gardener

Edible
Fragrant
Good Cut
Good Dried
Long Bloom Season
Long-lasting
Showy

Lysimachia clethroides: Flower Bloom Time

Winter
Spring
Summer
Fall

Lysimachia clethroides: Flower Petals

2-3 rays/petals
4-5 petals/rays
6 petals/rays
7 - 20 petals/rays
asymmetrical petals
Bracts
Colored Sepals
fused petals
more than 20 petals/rays
Tepals

Lysimachia clethroides: Flower Shape

Bell
Cross
Crown
Cup
Dome
Funnel
Irregular
Lipped
Radial
Saucer
Star
Trumpet
Tubular
Urn
Wheel

Lysimachia clethroides: Flower Size

1-3 inches
3-6 inches
< 1 inch
> 6 inches

Lysimachia clethroides Leaves

Lysimachia clethroides: Leaf Description

3-6 inch long green leaves have pointed tips and are paler underneath.

Lysimachia clethroides: Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics

Broadleaf Evergreen
Deciduous
Needled Evergreen
Semi-evergreen

Lysimachia clethroides: Leaf Color

spa
Green

Lysimachia clethroides: Deciduous Leaf Fall Color

spa
Brown/Copper
spa
Gold/Yellow

Lysimachia clethroides: Leaf Type

Compound (Pinnately , Bipinnately, Palmately)
Fronds
Needles
Sheath
Simple

Lysimachia clethroides: Leaf Arrangement

Alternate
Opposite
Other/more complex
Rosulate
Whorled

Lysimachia clethroides: Leaf Shape

Acicular
Auriculate
Cordate
Cuneate
Deltoid
Elliptical
Filiform
Lanceolate
Linear
Oblanceolate
Oblong
Obovate
Obtuse
Orbicular
Ovate
Palmasect
Palmatifid
Peltate
Pinnatifid
Pinnatisect
Reniform
Rhomboidal
Spatulate
Subcordate
Subulate

Lysimachia clethroides: Leaf Margin

Crenate
Crenulate
Dentate
Denticulate
Doubly Crenate
Doubly Dentate
Doubly Serrate
Entire
Lobed
Serrate
Sinuate
Undulate

Lysimachia clethroides: Hairs Present

No
Yes

Lysimachia clethroides: Leaf Length

< 1 inch
1-3 inches
3-6 inches
> 6 inches

Lysimachia clethroides: Leaf Width

< 1 inch
1-3 inches
3-6 inches
> 6 inches

Lysimachia clethroides Whole Plant Traits

Lysimachia clethroides: Plant Type

Annual
Bulb
Carnivorous
Edible
Epiphyte
Fern
Ground Cover
Herb
Herbaceous Perennial
Houseplant
Mushroom
Native Plant
Ornamental Grasses and Sedges
Perennial
Poisonous
Rose
Shrub
Succulent
Tree
Turfgrass
Vegetable
Vine
Water Plant
Weed
Wildflower

Lysimachia clethroides: Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics

Broadleaf Evergreen
Deciduous
Needled Evergreen
Semi-evergreen

Lysimachia clethroides: Habit/Form

Arching
Ascending
Broad
Cascading
Climbing
Clumping
Columnar
Conical
Creeping
Dense
Erect
Horizontal
Irregular
Mounding
Multi-stemmed
Multi-trunked
Open
Oval
Prostrate
Pyramidal
Rounded
Spreading
Vase
Weeping

Lysimachia clethroides: Growth Rate

Slow
Medium
Rapid

Lysimachia clethroides Cultural Conditions

Lysimachia clethroides: Light

Dappled Sunlight (Shade through upper canopy all day)
Deep shade (Less than 2 hours to no direct sunlight)
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)

Lysimachia clethroides: Soil Drainage

Frequent Standing Water
Good Drainage
Moist
Occasional Flooding
Occasionally Dry
Occasionally Wet
Very Dry

Lysimachia clethroides: NC Region

Coastal
Mountains
Piedmont

Lysimachia clethroides: USDA Plant Hardiness Zone

thermostat
3a
thermostat
3b
thermostat
4a
thermostat
4b
thermostat
5a
thermostat
5b
thermostat
6a
thermostat
6b
thermostat
7a
thermostat
7b
thermostat
8a
thermostat
8b

Lysimachia clethroides Stem

Lysimachia clethroides: Stem Is Aromatic

No
Yes

Lysimachia clethroides Landscape

Lysimachia clethroides: Landscape Theme

Asian Garden
Butterfly Garden
Children's Garden
Cottage Garden
Cutting Garden
Drought Tolerant Garden
Edible Garden
English Garden
Fairy Garden
Garden for the Blind
Native Garden
Nighttime Garden
Pollinator Garden
Rain Garden
Rock Garden
Shade Garden
Water Garden
Winter Garden

Lysimachia clethroides: Resistance To Challenges

Black Walnut
Compaction
Deer
Diseases
Drought
Dry Soil
Erosion
Fire
Foot Traffic
Heat
Heavy Shade
Humidity
Insect Pests
Pollution
Poor Soil
Rabbits
Salt
Slugs
Squirrels
Storm damage
Urban Conditions
Voles
Wet Soil
Wind

Lysimachia clethroides: Landscape Location

Coastal
Container
Hanging Baskets
Houseplants
Lawn
Meadow
Naturalized Area
Near Septic
Patio
Pond
Pool/Hardscape
Recreational Play Area
Riparian
Rock Wall
Slope/Bank
Small Space
Vertical Spaces
Walkways
Woodland

Lysimachia clethroides: Attracts

Bats
Bees
Butterflies
Frogs
Hummingbirds
Moths
Pollinators
Predatory Insects
Reptiles
Small Mammals
Songbirds
Specialized Bees

Lysimachia clethroides: Problems

Allelopathic
Contact Dermatitis
Frequent Disease Problems
Frequent Insect Problems
Invasive Species
Malodorous
Messy
Poisonous to Humans
Problem for Cats
Problem for Children
Problem for Dogs
Problem for Horses
Short-lived
Spines/Thorns
Weak Wood
Weedy