With its tall pink stems, purple loosestrife adorns water edges. It also boosts our well-being with its medicinal properties. Dive deep into the benefits of Lythrum salicaria and check out our growing tips!
→ Similar, but different: Astilbe
Purple loosestrife stands tall with its grand floral spikes, always a light purple shade.
This perennial thrives in damp environments. You’ll often find it near water. It grows to about 3 feet (1 meter) high. With lance-shaped green leaves running along its stem, its underside is lighter than the tips.
Above these upright stems filled with leaves, flowery spikes emerge. Blooming starts in June and runs through to October, keeping gardens lively all season long!
Producing nectar and honey, it serves as a feast for pollinating insects.
Purple loosestrife is recommended to combat diarrhea, even in toddlers. It acts as an intestinal antiseptic with antiviral properties.
This plant boasts anti-infective, antifungal, anti-inflammatory, analgesic, and astringent benefits.
It can also boost blood insulin levels, making it a diabetes remedy. Externally, it aids healing.
Purple loosestrife (Lythrum salicaria, Lythraceae) should not be confused with yellow loosestrife (Lysimachia vulgaris, Primulaceae), which shares part of the common name despite belonging to a different plant family and order.
For diarrhea, prepare up a decoction using 0.35 ounces (10 grams) of dried salicaria. Mix the plant with 1 quart (1 liter) of boiling water. Boil for 10 minutes, then let it steep as it cools. It’s best to drink two to three cups daily.
This time, dilute 50 drops in a glass of water. Repeat thrice daily for up to two days.
Apply powder directly to wounds or ulcers struggling to heal.
The article gives three preparations, each with its own dose and purpose. Use this table to pick the one that matches your need.
| Preparation | How it is prepared and used | What it is for |
|---|---|---|
| Decoction | 10 g (0.35 oz) dried plant in 1 litre (1 quart) of boiling water, boiled 10 minutes then left to steep as it cools | Diarrhoea; two to three cups daily |
| Liquid extract | 50 drops diluted in a glass of water | Three times daily, for up to two days |
| Powder | Applied directly, externally | Wounds or ulcers struggling to heal |
Internally or externally, the same plant covers both an upset gut and a stubborn wound.
Ever dreamed of a beautiful plant that thrives in a wet substrate or even waterlogged soil? If you’ve got a stream or pond close by, this plant is the perfect pick.
As for sun exposure, whether you have a spot in full sun or partial shade, it’s all the same to your purple loosestrife.
So how do you plant your newly-bought nursery pots? What matters is to keep plants about 20 inches (50cm) apart. Generally, planting many in a wide patch gives you a dense and blossoming carpet of beauty.
For this water-loving beauty, dry soil is a no-no! Unless you’re blessed with constantly wet ground, make sure to water often, just a tad less during winter months.
Every spring, it’ll be grateful for a good dose of compost or slow-release fertilizer. As blooms wilt away, snip off the flower spikes to avoid unscheduled reseeding.
The wild species is handsome, but the garden forms give you a choice of flower colour and a plant sized to the spot you have. Here are the loosestrifes most often offered by nurseries and garden centres in Britain and North America, with the points that separate them.
| Variety | Flower colour | RHS Award of Garden Merit | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rose Queen | Rose-pink | No | Containers and pond margins |
| Morden Pink | Clear pink | No | Cold-winter gardens |
| Dropmore Purple | Purple | No | Deep colour among grasses |
| Lady Sackville | Rich rose-pink | No | Cutting and bold vertical accents |
| Happy | Deep pink | No | Compact planting and small gardens |
| Robert | Bright clear pink | Yes | Small ponds and front of border |
| Zigeunerblut (Gypsy Blood) | Deep carmine red | No | Back of a boggy border |
| Blush | Pale shell pink | Yes | Soft pastel schemes at the water’s edge |
| The Rocket | Deep pink | No | Dense, upright flower spikes |
| Feuerkerze (Firecandle) | Intense rose-red | Yes | Strong colour in a damp border |
| Morden Gleam | Rose-red | No | Long, bright summer display |
Once the first frost hits, it’s seed collecting time. You’ll have to stratify them during winter to make sure they sprout in spring.
This is called stratification, simulating winter to ensure robust sprouting. Come next spring, you’re good to sow those seeds once temperatures rise above 59°F (15°C).
There’s also another way: just divide its clump. Pull a plant out, split it in half with a spade, and voilà! You’ve got two new plants. Best done in spring.
