Lysimachia Flowers

Yellow Lysimachia Flowers

Name : Lysimachia Flowers
Latin Name : Genus: Lysimachia, (Lysimachia clethroides )
Lysimachia Description

Lysimachia is a genus comprising of 180 species of flowering plants in the family Primulaceae. According to molecular phylogenetic study, the Lysimachia are classified in the family Myrsinaceae. The genus occurs worldwide, mostly in the northern subtropics and temperate zone, while a few species are dispersed throughout Africa, Australia, and South America.

Common names besides Lysimachia include Creeping Charlie, Creeping Jennie, Garden Loosestrife, Gooseneck Loosestrife, Loosestrife, Moneywort, Willow Herb, Purple Willow Herb, Long Purples, Rainbows, Herb Twopence, Twopenny Grass and Soldiers.

Lysimachia species differ greatly in their appearance, some varieties are tall, while others may be low and each variety offers a unique habit and foliage form. Lysimachia are mainly herbaceous perennials with leafy stems and odorless flowers. Tiny, star shaped Lysimachia flowers are white or yellow in colour, tightly arranged in small slender curving spike like racemes borne atop dense foliage.

Lysimachia prefer cool, damp conditions such as woodlands, bogs or waterside meadows. They thrive in rich, well-drained soil in a partially shaded location. Their blooming period is mainly summer, but some varieties are available all year round.

Lysimachia are vigorous plants, fairly easy to grow, and propagate by seeds or division in the spring or fall. They can also grow from stem cuttings taken in the spring or early summer and inserted in sand in a cold frame.

Popular varieties include L. clethroides or Gooseneck Loosestrife, which is a vigorous growing perennial from Japan that grows up to about 3 feet high. This variety has clumps of lance-shaped, mid-green leaves and tiny, white, star-shaped flowers borne in compact, slender spikes that are nodding when in bud, but straighten up when in full bloom. L. punctata or Garden Loosestrife is an erect-growing perennial, with a height of 3 feet and bears small, bright yellow flowers over long periods in the summer. L. nummularia is commonly called Creeping Charlie, Creeping Jennie or Moneywort and is a creeping plant with large, yellow flowers. Its variety Aurea bears greenish-yellow foliage. L. pseudo-Henryi is also another creeping variety with fleshy leaves and large, golden yellow flowers with darker centers. L. atropurpurea or Lysimachia Beaujolais is a summer flower with silver-green ornamental foliage and spikes of claret red almost black florets which is a highly unusual colour in perennials. This variety is a popular cut flower with a good vase life. The Lysimachia cultivar ‘Alexander’ has strikingly variegated foliage which is popular in cut flower arrangements.

Lysimachia is an excellent garden plant which requires very little care. Grown for its enchanting blossoms and lovely foliage, different Lysimachia find different types of uses in the garden. Varieties like L. pseudo-Henryi are suitable for the rock garden while others are great for planting on the edges of the water garden. Lysimachia is a superb border and bedding plant that adds colour to your garden.

Lysimachia is also popular in the cut flower trade and not only its blossoms but also its foliage is used in flower arrangements. Vase life for Lysimachia is about 5-10 days.

Lysimachia Meaning

The lovely Lysimachia flower signifies Release from strife and symbolizes Peacemaking. Lysimachia or Loosestrife also means Pretension.

Lysimachia Mythology

The genus name Lysimachia comes from the Greek words "lys(i)" meaning "loose, a loosening, release from" and "mach(i)" meaning "a fight, strife" translating to "ending strife".

The story behind this common name is very interesting and comes from ancient Thrace. Lysimachus, also known as Lysimachos (360BC - 281BC), a successor to Alexander the Great and later king of Thrace and Asia Minor (306BC) supposedly used Lysimachia or Loosestrife to calm an angry, charging bull. At another occasion, in a fit of anger, Alexander locked Lysimachus in a room with a lion. Upon his return, Alexander was surprised to see that Lysimachus had overpowered the animal. In 309BC Lysimachus built a city at the neck of the Crimean penninsula and named it Lysimachia. The city of Lysimachia was built on the site of another city named Kardia, and was destroyed by an earthquake about 20 years later.

The specie name L. nummularia, comes from the Latin word nummulus which means Money.

In the past, Moneywort was used in herbalism for healing wounds. A decoction of fresh Lysimachia was used to make an ointment, as a drink in wine or water, and also applied outwardly as a wash to wounds and inveterate sores. It was believed that smoke from the burning plant drove snakes away. Furthermore, it was also believed that wounded serpents turned to this plant for healing, and this is why Lysimachia was also called Serpentaria. Purple loosestrife is known to be a lymphatic cleanser.