Lysimachia clethroides aka Gooseneck Loosestrife

Lysimachia clethroides has the common name gooseneck loosestrife. It belongs to the primrose family, Primulaceae. This perennial has soft stems and lives for many years. Its native range spans the southern Russian Far East. It also covers temperate East Asia and reaches Indo-China. The plant grows beyond this range in eastern North America. Wild plants grow on grassy slopes and damp woodland edges. They also grow in wet ravines and mountain sites.

Plants form upright clumps and spread through stems below ground. These stems are called rhizomes. Garden plants reach 2–3 feet [0.61–0.91 metres] tall. RHS gives an upper height of about 3.3 feet [1 metre]. Clumps span 2–4 feet [0.61–1.22 metres], but colonies can spread farther. The straight green stems have fine hairs. They may branch near their tips. Leaves grow in an alternate pattern along the stems. Their edges are smooth, their tips pointed, and their undersides pale. Leaves measure 0.25–0.5 feet [0.08–0.15 metres] long. They can turn yellow or copper-brown in autumn. The plant sheds its leaves for winter.

Small white flowers crowd along curved stalks above the leaves. These flower clusters are called racemes. Each flower has a star-like shape. The flower stalks measure 1–1.5 feet [0.30–0.46 metres] long. Their bent tips give the plant its common name. Missouri Botanical Garden lists blooms from June to July. Other sources give a wider season, from May through August. The flowers draw pollinators, and they suit cut-flower displays. Small seed cases called capsules follow the blooms. The plant suits borders, moist meadows, and pond edges.

Grow this plant in full sun or partial shade. It prefers rich, moist soil with plenty of organic matter. It accepts clay, loam, sand, and chalk. It also accepts a broad pH range. Keep the soil from drying out during summer. Drier soil and shade slow its spread but can reduce flowers. Plants cope with wet soil and resist rabbits. Sources list USDA zones 3–8 and RHS hardiness H6. Rhizomes can crowd weaker plants, so keep spread in check. Hard barriers and splitting clumps help limit colonies. Slugs and snails may cause damage. Serious disease problems are rare.

Plants For A Future lists cooked leaves and young shoots as food. It calls them a fallback food or condiment. It also lists flowers and fruit as edible. It gives no details on how to prepare them. The same source lists no known hazards. This does not prove the plant is safe. It records no known medicinal uses.