LYTHRUM
Perennial – Sun / Light Shade
Lythrum salicaria Ht. 2’-4’ Spread 3’-4’
LITH-rum sal-eh-CARE-ee-ah Spacing 3’
HABIT: Pink or lavender flowers on terminal spikes. Plant is fairly woody and upright. Species plants are invasive – cultivars are not as bad.
CULTURE: Tough and very adaptable. Can grow easily in damp, normal, or dry soils of various pH.
USES: Perennial garden, color accent, cutting garden.
PROBLEMS: Not a long lasting perennial in many cases.
NOTES: Also called loosestrife. ‘Happy,’ Morden’s Gleam,’ ‘Firecandle,’ and ‘Morden’s Pink’ are good cultivars. Some gardeners are reporting that even the cultivars can be invasive, especially in wet soil.