Lysimachia borealis
northern starflower
Overview
Lysimachia borealis is a small woodland perennial 3-9 inches (8-23 cm) tall, growing from a slender creeping rhizome that forms loose colonies. A single upright stem carries one whorl of 5-9 lance-shaped to elliptic leaves 1.5-4 inches (4-10 cm) long near the top, with a few much smaller leaves below. From the center of the whorl rise one to three thread-like stalks, each holding one white, star-shaped flower 0.5-0.7 inch (1.3-1.8 cm) across. The flowers usually have seven pointed petals, more than the five typical of related species, and bloom from May through June. Small round seed capsules follow. The plant goes dormant by midsummer, dying back to the rhizome, so it is visible only in spring and early summer. It grows in the cool, moist, acidic soils of conifer and mixed woods and spreads slowly by rhizome rather than by abundant seed. It declines under disturbance, drought, and the loss of shade when its woodland canopy is removed.
Native Range
Native to northern North America, from Labrador and Newfoundland west to the Northwest Territories and south through the Great Lakes and Appalachians to Georgia at higher elevations. Grows in cool, moist, acidic woods, bogs, and conifer forests, often among mosses on the forest floor.Suggested Uses
Grown in woodland and native-plant gardens with cool, moist, acidic soil and an intact litter layer, planted in drifts among ferns and mosses. Its summer dormancy and strict site needs limit it to shaded naturalistic plantings rather than borders. It pairs with other spring woodland species that fill in as it fades.How to Identify
Appearance
Size & Dimensions
Height3" - 9"
Width/Spread6" - 1'
Bloom Information
Flowers from May through June, with bloom lasting about two to three weeks at a given site. The white star-shaped flowers are insect-pollinated and open in dappled woodland light. Flowering ends as the canopy closes and the plant begins to go dormant.
Detailed Descriptions
Foliage Description
greenGrowing Conditions
Sun Requirements
Requires 1-4 hours of direct sunlight daily
• Full Sun: 6+ hours of direct sunlight
• Partial Shade: 3-6 hours of direct sunlight
• Full Shade: Less than 3 hours of direct sunlight