Growing up in Pennsylvania, I had a plethora of gardening friends and fellow plant enthusiasts who were very generous in sharing plants with me. My neighbors made significant contributions to the garden I created in my parent’s backyard including Rose of Sharon (Hibiscus syriacus), a slew of aquatic plants and most notably, Lysimachia clethroides. Lysimachia clethroides, commonly referred to as Gooseneck Loosestrife, was my first love in the Lysimachia genera of plants. With 12-16″ curved stems with spiky white flowers in summer, Gooseneck Loosestrife fills patches of garden beds quickly.
Purple Foliage of Lysimachia ciliata 'Firecracker'
Lysimachia ciliata ‘Firecracker’, commonly referred to as Hairy Loosestrife is a species that boasts purple leaves with bright yellow flowers. It grows up to 24-30″ tall and is hardy in zones 5-8. It can grow in aggressive patches so it is best placed in a perennial border where it has space to grow. Pair it with variegated leaves or fine textures for maximum impact.
