Phryma leptostachya
American lopseed
eastern North America with a disjunct population in eastern Asia
Attracts Pollinators
Native to North America
Overview
Phryma leptostachya is an upright herbaceous perennial in the family Phrymaceae, reaching 1–3 feet (30–90 cm) tall on a slender, four-angled stem. The opposite leaves are ovate with coarsely toothed margins, 2–6 inches (5–15 cm) long, the lower ones stalked and the upper nearly stalkless. In summer the stem ends in one or more long, slender spikes on which small two-lipped flowers, white to pale lavender and about 0.3 inch (7 mm) long, are spaced in opposite pairs. The flowers point outward at bloom, then the small oblong fruits bend sharply downward and press flat against the spike as they ripen — the trait that gives the plant its common name. It grows in moist deciduous woods, shaded slopes, and woodland edges across eastern North America, with a disjunct population in eastern Asia. The flowers are individually inconspicuous, so the plant is grown more for woodland naturalizing than for floral display. The downward-hooked fruits catch on fur and clothing, which carries the seed to new ground.
Native Range
Phryma leptostachya is native to eastern North America, from Quebec and Ontario south to Florida and Texas, with a closely related disjunct population in eastern Asia. It grows throughout the eastern deciduous forest in moist, shaded soils.Suggested Uses
Phryma leptostachya is used in shade and woodland gardens and in native plant restorations as a groundlayer perennial. It supplies summer nectar for small bees in shaded sites where few other plants flower. It naturalizes into loose stands by self-seeding.How to Identify
Appearance
Size & Dimensions
Height1' - 3'
Width/Spread1' - 1'6"
Bloom Information
Flowering occurs from June through August, with the spikes elongating as bloom progresses from the base upward. Only a few flowers are open at once, and the display lasts about 6 weeks. After pollination by small bees, the fruits turn down against the spike and ripen into late summer.
Detailed Descriptions
Flower Description
white to pale lavenderFoliage Description
greenGrowing Conditions
Sun Requirements
Requires 2-6 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