Lysimachia quadrifolia aka Whorled Yellow Loosestrife

Lysimachia quadrifolia, or whorled loosestrife, belongs to the primrose family. This herbaceous perennial comes from Canada and the eastern United States. Its native range includes Ontario and Manitoba. It grows in woods, clearings, fields, and roadside sites. Other habitats include rocky slopes, shores, and pine savannas. In North Carolina, it grows in both moist and dry places.

Plants reach about 2–3 feet [0.61–0.91 metres] tall. The listed garden dimensions give a lower maximum of 2.5 feet [0.76 metres]. Their spread reaches 1–2 feet [0.30–0.61 metres]. Long, shallow rhizomes help the plant spread along the ground. Upright stems have smooth surfaces and green to red tones. Their cross sections may be round or angled. Branches often form in the upper half. Green leaves form whorls of four or five around stems. They range from oval to lance-shaped, with pointed tips. Fine hairs grow along the edges and beneath the leaves. The leaves have short stalks or none at all.

Flowers open from July to August on long, slender stalks. Each flower grows from the joint between leaf and stem. Five yellow petals form a star around a red centre. Some flowers also have red edges or dark resin streaks. The five stamens join at their bases into a tube-like form. Dry capsules follow the blooms from August to October. These split open and release their seeds. The flowers draw pollinators and add summer colour to plantings.

Give this plant sun and soil that stays moist. It also tolerates part shade and sites that turn dry. It grows in clay, loam, or sand with good drainage. Acid, neutral, and alkaline soils all suit it. North Carolina State lists it for USDA zones 4–8. It needs little upkeep and has no serious pest or disease problems. Its spread is restrained, and it competes poorly with other plants. Use it in meadows, woodland plots, borders, or natural-style gardens. Division and seed both provide ways to grow more plants. Sow seeds on the surface, since light helps them sprout.

Dried leaves have served as a substitute for tea. Plants For A Future gives it a low food-use rating. That source reports no known hazards, rather than proof of safety. Historical uses include Cherokee treatments for kidney and urinary troubles. Other records describe plant teas for bowel and related complaints. Root tea has also served to prompt vomiting and urine flow. These records describe past uses, not evidence that treatments work.