Gooseneck loosestrife is an herbaceous perennial wildflower in the Primulaceae (primrose) family. It is native to Japan and China, and has been introduced to Russia, Korea and eastern North America. It inhabits wet areas along woodlands and ravines as well as sunny, sheltered mountainous slopes. It has an upright rigid habit, with small white flowers densely grouped on arching terminal spikes that bloom May through August. It is grown commercially for use as cut flowers, as the attractive flower spike can reach nearly a foot in length. The Gooseneck name is attributed to the arched flower spike that resembles the curve of a goose’s neck. These fast-spreading plants prefer full sun and rich soil. In ideal conditions, plants spread aggressively via rhizomes or become weedy from seed dispersal. Rapid growth may overtake other plants if not kept in check. It grows less aggressively in shady, dry soils but will produce fewer flowers and may become leggy. Plant within areas bounded by hardscaping and divide rhizomes in the spring to manage its spread. Plant in sunny or partly shaded, moist locations in beds or borders. Deadheading promotes reblooming. Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: Aggressive growth must be managed to keep it under control.
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
Soil drainage
Good Drainage | Moist | Occasionally Dry | Occasionally Wet
Available space
12 inches-3 feet
NC region
Coastal; Mountains; Piedmont
Mature size
Height: 2 ft. 0 in. - 3 ft. 0 in. | Width: 2 ft. 0 in. - 4 ft. 0 in.
Growth rate
Rapid
Maintenance
Medium
Canopy layer
4 - Herbaceous (3-15 ft)
Form & Appearance
Habit / form
Clumping; Erect
Texture
Medium
Leaf color
Green
Leaf type
Simple
Leaf arrangement
Alternate
Leaf shape
Elliptical; Lanceolate; Ovate
Leaf margin
Entire
Leaf size
3-6 inches long, 1-3 inches wide
Hairs present
No
Leaf detail
3-6 inch long green leaves have pointed tips and are paler underneath.
Fall color
Brown/Copper; Gold/Yellow
Flower color
White
Flower value
Good Cut; Showy
Flower form
Raceme; Spike
Flower shape
Star
Flower size
< 1 inch
Flower detail
Tiny white blooms, produced on arching, tapered flower spikes 12-18" in length. Individual flowers are star-shaped and 1/2 inch wide. and densely arranged on the spike. Blooms early to late summer.
Bloom time
Spring; Summer
Fruit type
Capsule
Fruit size
< 1 inch long, < 1 inch wide
Stem color
Green
Stem detail
Simple stem or may be apically branched
Wildlife & Ecology
Native status
Non-native
Origin
China, Laos, Vietnam, Japan, Korea and Primorye
Distribution
Introduced to eastern U.S. and Canada
Wildlife value
Members of the genus Lysimachia support the following specialized bees: Macropis (Macropis) ciliata, Macropis (Macropis) patellata, and Macropis (Macropis) steironematis.
Attracts
Pollinators; Specialized Bees
Play value
Attractive Flowers; Attracts Pollinators; Easy to Grow