Lysimachia quadrifolia (whorled loosestrife)

Mirko Schoenitz, no rights reserved (CC0) · iNaturalist

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Lysimachia quadrifolia

whorled loosestrife

Primulaceae Eastern North America

Attracts Pollinators Deer Resistant Drought Tolerant

Native to North America

SunFull Sun – Part Shade

WaterLow · drought-tolerant

HardinessZones 4–8

Overview

Lysimachia quadrifolia is an upright herbaceous perennial in the primrose family, growing 1-3 feet (30-90 cm) tall on slender, usually unbranched stems. The lance-shaped leaves are arranged in evenly spaced whorls of four to six around the stem, each 1.5-4 inches (4-10 cm) long. From late spring into summer, slender thread-like stalks rise from the leaf whorls, each carrying a single star-shaped yellow flower about 0.5 inch (1.2 cm) across, marked with red streaks and a red ring at the center. The five petals are spreading and pointed. After bloom, small round seed capsules form. Native to dry to moist open woods, clearings, and roadsides of eastern North America, it spreads by slender rhizomes to form loose colonies. It grows in part shade to full sun on average, slightly acidic soil and tolerates poor, dry ground once established. Hardy in USDA zones 4-8, the foliage dies back each winter and resprouts in spring. Unlike the aggressive purple loosestrife, this native species spreads modestly and is not considered invasive. The flowers draw small bees and other pollinators. It tolerates drought and neglect but flowers more heavily with some moisture and light.

Native Range

Native to eastern North America, from Maine and Ontario south to Georgia and Alabama, and west to Wisconsin and Illinois. It grows in dry to moist open woodlands, thickets, clearings, and along roadside banks.

Suggested Uses

Used in woodland gardens, native plant borders, meadow plantings, and naturalized dry banks, spaced 12-18 inches (30-45 cm) apart. Suited to part-shade spots and informal areas where it can spread into drifts.

How to Identify

Recognized by leaves in regular whorls of four to six along an upright unbranched stem. From each upper whorl rise thin, thread-like flower stalks bearing single yellow star-shaped flowers streaked with red and ringed red at the throat. The spreading pointed petals and whorled leaves separate it from yellow-flowered relatives with paired leaves.

Appearance

Size & Dimensions

Height1' - 3'

Width/Spread1' - 2'

Colors

Flower Colors

Foliage Colors

Fall Foliage Colors

Bloom Information

Bloom Period

~5 weeks

Spring Summer

Flowering runs from late spring into midsummer, May to July across its range. The small red-marked yellow stars open over several weeks on thread-like stalks held among the leaf whorls. Bloom tapers as seed capsules form.

Detailed Descriptions

Flower Description

yellow with red center

Foliage Description

green

Growing Conditions

Sun Requirements

SunFull Sun SunPartial Shade

Requires 4-8 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

Soil Requirements

pH Range5.0 - 6.5(Acidic)

357912

Soil Types

loam sand rocky

Drainagewell drained

Water & Climate

Water Needs

Low

Frost Tolerance

hardy

Time to Maturity

2-3 years

Drought Tolerance

Drought tolerant when established

Care & Maintenance

Care Guide

Grow in full sun to part shade on average, well-drained, slightly acidic soil. The plant tolerates dry, poor, sandy or rocky ground and needs little water once established. It spreads by rhizomes into loose colonies but is easy to contain by pulling unwanted shoots. No feeding is needed in ordinary soil. Cut spent stems back in late fall or early spring. Hardy in USDA zones 4-8, it returns reliably from the root each spring.

Pruning

Cut faded flowering stems to the ground after bloom to tidy the planting, or leave seed capsules for self-sowing. Remove old growth in early spring before new shoots emerge. Dividing clumps in spring controls spread and renews growth.

Pruning Schedule

fallearly spring