Purple Loosestrife
Lythrum salicaria
Purple Loosestrife is a perennial for focal point, mid-border, suited to full sun to partial shade and clay, loam or moist ground, flowering Jul, Aug, Sep.
| Type | Perennial |
|---|---|
| Mature height | 100 cm |
| Spread | 45 cm |
| Aspect | full sun to partial shade |
| Foliage | Deciduous |
| Hardiness | RHS H7 |
| Pollinator-friendly | Yes |
| Pet-safe | Not confirmed |
Where to use it in a border
At around 100 cm, it sits best toward the back of a border, or on its own as a focal point with room around it. Give it about 45 cm of room to spread, roughly 2 to the metre when planted in a drift. It is rated H7 by the RHS, so check it suits your area before planting.
It appears in our lists of full sun, clay soil, wet soil, pollinator-friendly plants.
Border Builder uses Purple Loosestrife's height, spread, soil, bloom months and companions to place it in a full border plan for your own conditions, on iPhone and iPad.
Flowering through the year
Worth knowing
- It copes with ground that stays wet, which most border plants will not.
- Its flowers are valued by bees and other pollinators.
Good companions
Plants that share its conditions and style, chosen to complement its place in the border:
- Betonyto edge in front
- Bloody cranesbillto edge in front
- Common Honeysucklefor height behind it
- Cowslipto edge in front
- Harebellto edge in front
- Hawthornfor height behind it