Lysimachia ciliata (Fringed Loosestrife)

Plant Info
Also known as:
Genus:Lysimachia
Family:Myrsinaceae (Myrsine)
Life cycle:perennial
Origin:native
Habitat:part shade, sun; moist thickets, swamps, along shores, floodplains
Bloom season:June - August
Plant height:1 to 4 feet
Wetland Indicator Status:GP: FACW MW: FACW NCNE: FACW
MN county distribution (click map to enlarge):Minnesota county distribution map
National distribution (click map to enlarge):National distribution map

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Detailed Information

Flower: Flower shape: 5-petals

[photo of flowers] 1-inch pale to medium yellow flowers, often nodding, on long slender stalks arising from leaf axils in the upper plant. Flowers have 5 petals, generally broadly oval but with a sharp, abrupt point at the tip, often with a spot of red at the petal base. In the center are 5 creamy yellow stamens.

[photo of sepals] The 5 sepals behind the flower are narrow, shorter than the petals, and streaked with 3 to 5 parallel lines. One plant has a few to many flowers.

Leaves and stem: Leaf attachment: opposite Leaf type: simple

[photo of leaves] Leaves are up to 6 inches long and 2½ inches across, rounded at the base, tapering to a sharp point at the tip. The leaves may have fine hairs along the edge, but are otherwise smooth. The edges can be somewhat wavy. Attachment is opposite.

[photo of leaf stalks] While the main stem is hairless, the leaf stalk and axils are conspicuously hairy, which is where this plant gets its common name.

Notes:

While there are a few other yellow loosestrife species with similar flowers, Fringed Loosestrife is easily identified by the relatively broad leaves and fringed leaf stalks. All of the Lysimachia species were formerly in the Primulaceae (Primrose) family, but have been moved to the Myrsinaceae (Myrsine) family.

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More photos

Photos by K. Chayka taken at Long Lake Regional Park, Ramsey County and Eloise Butler Wildflower Garden, Minneapolis. Photos courtesy Peter M. Dziuk taken in Anoka County.

Comments

Have you seen this plant in Minnesota, or have any other comments about it?

Posted by: Mark - Oakdale Nature Preserve, Oakdale MN
on: 2010-07-29 19:55:31

Seen blooming 7/28/10 on the edge of a swampy area which I helped clear of buckthorn last winter.

Posted by: Deb near Pierz
on: 2011-07-20 20:40:19

While road biking from Pine River to Pierz--closer to Pierz

Posted by: Rick - Becker Co. North Country Trail
on: 2012-06-25 07:00:28

Blooming 6/22/12

Posted by: Frank - St. Paul
on: 2015-07-14 21:24:07

Under Douglas firs in my backyard.

Posted by: Shirley - Mound, Hennepin County
on: 2015-09-18 15:24:43

I planted this in my shady garden in 2010. It continues to grow and spread, but for the last 2 years something has been attacking the leaves. Looks like they are being eaten by something. Any ideas and what natural product can I use next year to combat this?

Posted by: K. Chayka
on: 2015-09-18 19:15:56

Possibly Japanese beetles (they eat everything) but I believe Lysimachia is also a host plant for some native butterflies. You should find out what is eating the leaves before deciding what to do about it.

Posted by: Pat W - Pillager
on: 2016-07-11 20:30:07

One showed up in my garden area this week. Only about 18 inches tall but the flowers are quite nice. I will collect seed and start a new population.

Posted by: K. Chayka
on: 2016-07-12 05:52:12

Pat, FYI it will spread on its own via rhizomes. Once it establishes you'll need to keep it contained if you don't want it spreading everywhere. New shoots are easy to pull up so that shouldn't be hard, you just need to keep on top of it.

Posted by: Kenny h - Shooting Star Scenic By way West of LeRoy
on: 2017-07-13 14:06:20

Found this yesterday in orchid area...it amazes me that the flowers of the 2 yellow Loosestrifes look so similar...but the leaves look so different...amazing nature.

Posted by: Nancy S. - Brook Park, in Pine County, MN
on: 2017-07-13 21:21:54

Blooming right now (July 13th) in the shady ditch area behind my rural mailbox. Very pretty flowers, all facing downward.

Posted by: Dawn Kruger - Littlefork
on: 2018-07-15 20:23:47

Blooming now on northern river bank under tree cover among wild roses. Most are smaller than 1”.

Posted by: Jane Johnson - Tofte
on: 2018-08-07 18:22:05

blooming on a back road near Tofte,MN

Posted by: Mandi Rossberg - Blackduck
on: 2022-08-06 17:48:24

Just found a couple plants by our swamp. Not yet flowering.

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