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Lysimachia Clethroides (Goose Neck Plant)

Lancashire LassLancashire Lass Posts: 367
in Plants

I'd love one of these plants but being in the loosestrife family I have read that they are invasive and difficult to contain.

My thoughts are to plant it in a large container for the patio.

Has anyone tried this please?

Posts

  • ObelixxObelixx Posts: 30,058

    I planted 3 about 10 years ago and they have now spread to fill an area about 3 or 4 sqaure metres in total so they're not fiercely invasive and it's easy enugh to dig chunks out and pot them up for swaps or local plant fairs.

    My patch has now met the more vigorous phlomis russeliana and I need to referee so this spring I shall be taking it all up, renewing the soil with some garden compost and replanting healthy clumps in the same spot and in some bare patches in other beds where I have taken out couch grass and nettles that have invaded during this mild winter and which also took advantage of my convalescence from two foot surgeries which kept me off the garden for a year.

    I wouldn't grow it in a pot as it's not interesting enough as a specimen plant but it does associate very well with other plants in the border and is easy to control.   Just dig up the bits your don't want.

    Vendée - 20kms from Atlantic coast.
    "The price good men (and women) pay for indifference to public affairs is to be ruled by evil men (and women)."
    Plato
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,109

    I didn't think they were terribly invasive - unlike their purple and yellow siblings . I quite fancy having it as I think it would work well with lots of other plants as Obelixx says.

    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • Lancashire LassLancashire Lass Posts: 367

    I have both yellow and purple loosestrife baskets in my pond and veriagated yellow loosestrife 'Alexander' in my bedding. I hope I don't have too many problems with them straying and assume that the veriagated one won't be as invasive.

    Obelixx, when you say that they wouldn't be good specemin plants are you talking about the number of flowers that they throw out? I believe that they go rustic brown in Autumn before they die down, and I love the way the flowers droop.

  • nutcutletnutcutlet Posts: 27,441

    I think they're invasive if they like your soil.

    I've had them in pots, when I opened the garden I used to sell plants. They fill the pots extremely quickly and unless you keep potting on are pot bound by flowering time



    In the sticks near Peterborough
  • ObelixxObelixx Posts: 30,058

    Speicmen plants need to have good stems, good foliage, good form and/or good flowers.   This lysimachia is best with other plants to hide its lower stems.  The flowers are lovely but not enough on their own for life in a prominent pot.

    This lysimachia is very polite compared with the more common purple and yellow flowered forms so I'd just plant it in the ground and see what happens.

    Vendée - 20kms from Atlantic coast.
    "The price good men (and women) pay for indifference to public affairs is to be ruled by evil men (and women)."
    Plato
  • Lancashire LassLancashire Lass Posts: 367

    I think I'll leave it! I don't really have room for a plant that may grow too big and it sounds like the pot idea is maybe a bit idealised in my mind because of the shape of the flowers.

    Thanks for your advise folks.

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