Samolus spp.
brookweed
Cosmopolitan, concentrated in the Southern Hemisphere
Overview
Samolus spp. is a genus of about a dozen small herbaceous plants in the primrose family (Primulaceae), found on damp and wet ground across much of the world, with a concentration in the Southern Hemisphere. Plants form low basal rosettes of smooth, spoon-shaped to oval leaves, sending up slender flowering stems 2-18 in (5-45 cm) tall. The small five-petalled flowers, about 0.1-0.2 in (3-5 mm) across, are white or occasionally pink and carried in loose, branched racemes, each often with a tiny bract along the stalk. Flowering runs from late spring through summer, followed by small rounded capsules. Species grow in marshes, stream banks, ditches, springs, and damp coastal ground, including some brackish sites, and they need constantly moist to wet soil rather than tolerating drought. S. valerandi is the most widespread, occurring across Europe, Asia, Africa, and the Americas. Growth is low and unobtrusive.
Native Range
Samolus spp. is widely distributed across the Americas, Eurasia, Africa, and Australasia, with many species in the Southern Hemisphere. Plants grow in marshes, wet meadows, stream banks, springs, and damp, sometimes brackish, coastal ground.Suggested Uses
Grown in bog gardens, pond and stream margins, and damp borders as a low rosette plant. Coastal species suit brackish and seaside plantings on permanently moist ground.How to Identify
Appearance
Size & Dimensions
Height2" - 1'6"
Width/Spread4" - 1'
Bloom Information
Flowering runs from late spring through summer, roughly May to August, with small white flowers opening over a long period along branched racemes. Each flower is followed by a small rounded capsule, and stems often carry flowers and developing fruit at once.
Detailed Descriptions
Foliage Description
greenGrowing Conditions
Sun Requirements
Requires 3-8 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
Care & Maintenance
Care Guide
Samolus spp. grows in full sun to part shade on constantly moist to wet soils, including the margins of ponds, streams, and bog gardens, and tolerates some salt in coastal forms. A soil pH near 6.0-7.5 is suitable, though some species accept slightly alkaline or brackish conditions. The genus does not tolerate drying out and declines quickly on dry ground. Loam, silt, and humus-rich wet soils suit it. Few pests or diseases are troublesome where moisture is constant.Pruning
Little pruning is needed. Spent flowering stems can be removed to tidy the rosette, and self-sown seedlings are thinned or moved while small.Pruning Schedule
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
summer
Container Growing
✓ Suitable for container growing
Minimum container size: 2 gallons