Fringed Loosestrife is an herbaceous perennial wildflower in the Primulaceae (primrose) family. It is native to North America across southern Canada and much of the U.S., including Alaska and most of the lower 48 states. It inhabits wetlands, swamps, marshes, pond edges, moist deciduous woods, roadsides, stream banks, bogs, flood plains, and wet prairies. Fringed Loosestrife is one of the most commonly found Lysimachia species. In some areas, populations are declining due to loss of wetland habitat. This plant’s scientific name is derived from the hairs that grow along its petioles, distinguishing it from other Lysimachia species. It has an upright habit with little branching, and star-shaped yellow flowers that produce a floral oil, rather than pollen, which attracts pollinators. Plant in full sun to light shade in wet to moist conditions, in a loamy soil high in organic matter. It is suitable as a bedding or border plant in wet sites or along streams and ponds. Flowers bloom in mid-summer to early fall with a few to many flowers open at one time. This plant reproduces through rhizomes and seed capsules. Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: No serious problems, but some destructive insects feed on certain parts of this Loosestrife (leafhoppers, sawfly, leaf miners and others).
Curated pairwise relationships between this plant and others in the library — who feeds
whom, who competes, who confuses the pests. Green reads as a good pairing, red as one to avoid.
No curated interactions recorded for this species yet.
Also noted by NC State
Related species the NC State Plant Toolbox flags for this plant — look-alikes to tell
apart, and plants that play a similar role in a planting. Ones we carry in the library are linked.
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day) | Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
Soil texture
High Organic Matter; Loam (Silt)
Soil pH
Acid (<6.0); Neutral (6.0-8.0)
Soil drainage
Good Drainage | Moist | Occasional Flooding | Occasionally Wet
Available space
12 inches-3 feet
NC region
Coastal; Mountains; Piedmont
Mature size
Height: 1 ft. 0 in. - 4 ft. 0 in. | Width: 1 ft. 0 in. - 2 ft. 0 in.
Canopy layer
4 - Herbaceous (3-15 ft)
Form & Appearance
Habit / form
Erect; Spreading
Texture
Medium
Leaf color
Green
Leaf type
Simple
Leaf arrangement
Opposite
Leaf shape
Lanceolate
Leaf margin
Entire
Leaf size
3-6 inches long, 1-3 inches wide
Hairs present
Yes
Leaf detail
Leaves occur in pairs in opposite arrangement along the stem and are up to 6 inches long and 2.5 inches wide with fine hairs along the edge. This species has hairs along the petioles which is a distinguishing feature.
Flower color
Gold/Yellow
Flower value
Long Bloom Season
Flower form
Panicle
Flower shape
Star
Flower size
< 1 inch
Flower detail
Individual flowers, one-half to one inch, nodding downward, yellow blooms with 5 petals on 3 inch stems with short hairs. The center of the petals is often reddish. Flowers bloom from May to September.
Bloom time
Fall; Summer
Fruit color
Green
Fruit type
Capsule
Fruit size
< 1 inch long, < 1 inch wide
Fruit detail
The seed capsule is green and shiny and contains several seeds. Fruit displays from August to October.
Stem color
Green
Stem detail
Stems are erect, simple. Mostly unbranched but may have some.
Wildlife & Ecology
Native status
Native
Origin
Canada to U.S.A
Distribution
Que. to B.C., s. to FL, TX & CO. USA: AK, AL, AR, CO, CT, DC, DE, FL, GA, IA, ID, IL, IN, KS, KY, MA, MD, ME, MI, MN, MO, MS, MT, NC, ND, NE, NH, NJ, NM, NY, OH, OK, OR, PA, RI, SC, SD, TN, UT, VA, VT, WA, WI, WV, WY. Canada: AB, BC, MB, NB, NS, NU, ON, PE, QC, SK
Wildlife value
Attracts Melittid bees (Macropis steironematis) which only feed on Lysimachia species.
Attracts
Bees; Pollinators; Songbirds
Food & Medicine
Edible parts
Leaves
Fruit type
Capsule
Edibility
The cooked leaves of this plant are said to be edible.
Uses (ethnobotany)
Medicinally this plant is largely astringent with some diaphoretic (promoting sweating and perspiration) and emetic (causing vomiting) properties. The live plant is said to repel gnats and flies. Some people will use a smudge fire of this plant as an effective repellant for flies during the summer.