Swamp Candles
(Lysimachia terrestris)
Swamp Candles (Lysimachia terrestris)
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Wendelyn Bolles
CC BY 4.0
Image By:
Wendelyn Bolles
Recorded By:
Copyright:
CC BY 4.0
Copyright Notice:
Photo by: Wendelyn Bolles | License Type: CC BY 4.0 | License URL: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ | Rights Holder: Wendelyn Bolles | Publisher: iNaturalist | Date Created: 2020-07-22T09:21:02-07:00 |
Estimated Native Range
Summary
Lysimachia terrestris, commonly known as Swamp Candles, is a deciduous perennial herb native to wetlands such as marshes, swamps, and wet meadows in the Eastern United States and parts of Canada. It typically grows to a height of 1-3 feet (30-90 cm) and spreads 1-2 feet (30-60 cm). The plant features opposite, simple leaves and erect stems that bear racemes of star-shaped flowers, each with five yellow petals, in mid-summer. Notably, each petal has two red dots at its base, creating a striking circle of ten red dots in the flower’s center. The flowers are moderately showy and attract pollinators.
Swamp Candles are valued for their ability to thrive in wet conditions and are often used in rain gardens, water features, and naturalized wetland plantings. They are also appreciated for their unique flower pattern and the splash of color they add to shady areas. In cultivation, they require consistently moist to wet soils and can tolerate either part shade or full shade. While they are not drought-tolerant, they are relatively low maintenance once established in the right conditions. However, gardeners should be aware that Lysimachia terrestris can spread aggressively by rhizomes and may become invasive in some areas, outcompeting native species.CC BY-SA 4.0
Swamp Candles are valued for their ability to thrive in wet conditions and are often used in rain gardens, water features, and naturalized wetland plantings. They are also appreciated for their unique flower pattern and the splash of color they add to shady areas. In cultivation, they require consistently moist to wet soils and can tolerate either part shade or full shade. While they are not drought-tolerant, they are relatively low maintenance once established in the right conditions. However, gardeners should be aware that Lysimachia terrestris can spread aggressively by rhizomes and may become invasive in some areas, outcompeting native species.CC BY-SA 4.0
Plant Description
- Plant Type: Herb
- Height: 2-3 feet
- Width: 0.667-1 feet
- Growth Rate: Moderate
- Flower Color: Yellow
- Flowering Season: Summer
- Leaf Retention: Deciduous
Growth Requirements
- Sun: Part Shade, Full Shade
- Water: High
- Drainage: Slow
Common Uses
Bee Garden, Bird Garden, Butterfly Garden, Deer Resistant, Hummingbird Garden, Rabbit Resistant, Showy Flowers, Water Garden
Natural Habitat
Wetlands such as marshes, swamps, and wet meadows
Other Names
Common Names: Bog Loosestrife, Swamp Candles, Swamp-Candles, Swamp Loosestrife, Lake Loosestrife, Bulblet Loosestrife, Swamp Yellow Loosestrife, Lysimaque Terrestre, Smallysing
Scientific Names: , Lysimachia terrestris, Lysimachia vulgaris, Lysimachia stricta, Lysimachia terrestris f. florifera, Lysimachia racemosa, Lysimachia stricta var. ovata, Viscum terrestre, Lysimachia bulbifera, Lysimachia michauxii
GBIF Accepted Name: Lysimachia terrestris (L.) Britton, Sterns & Poggenb.