Golden Globes Loosestrife

Lysimachia congestiflora ‘Golden Globes’

Characteristics

Culture

Golden Globes Loosestrife are easy to grow, undemanding plants that are hardy in USDA zones 7-9. Winter hardy to USDA Zone 7 (Zone 6 with a protected location and winter mulch) where it is easily grown in moist, humus-rich, well-drained soils in full sun to part shade. Plants perform best in full sun in the northern parts of their growing range, but appreciate some part afternoon shade in hot summer areas. Plants will spread by creeping stems which root at the nodes to form an attractive ground cover, but are not considered to be invasive. Species plants may be propagated by division, cuttings or seed. Species plants will flower in the first year from seed and therefore may be grown as annuals.

Noteworthy Characteristics

 

Lysimachia congestiflora, commonly called Golden Globes Loosestrife, is a prostrate, mat-forming herbaceous perennial that grows to only 3-6” tall but spreads in the garden by creeping stems to 12” wide or more to form a dense medium green ground cover accented from late spring to mid-summer by showy cup-shaped bright yellow flowers. It is native to ditches, roadsides, edges of rice paddies, and damp forest margins in China, Bhjutan, India, Myanmar, Nepal, Sikkim, Thailand and Vietnam. Stems are clad with opposite to whorled, ovate to broad-ovate medium green leaves (to 1 1/2” long). Leaves are semi-evergreen to evergreen in warm winter areas where temperatures do not drop below 15°F. Some species plants with colorful variegated leaves have been found growing in the wild. Cup-shaped, 5-petaled, yellow flowers (to 3/4” wide) bloom in terminal clusters (3-8 flowered racemes) from late May to July.

Problems

No serious insect or disease problems. Susceptible to rust and leaf spots. Don’t confuse this with the noxious weed called Purple Loosestrife (Lythrum salicaria).

Garden Uses

Good ground cover. Border fronts or rock gardens. Waterside gardens. Sprawl over rocky surfaces. Grow as an annual in hanging baskets or containers.

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Courtesy of Missouri Botanical Society Plant Finder