Still sharing photos from my Fleetwood Park visit last month. Once again, it required research to identify this gracefully curving spike of little white flowers. Lysimachia clethroides (ly-si-MAK-ee-uh klee-THROY-dees) or "Gooseneck Loosestrife" is a very polarizing specimen with gardeners due to its aggressively invasive habit, with some people loving it and others despising it. By most accounts, it is a truly delightful addition for the first two years after which it seems to grow horns, figuratively speaking, and take off like a bull in a china shop. Attempts to contain it often prove futile, although where it is planted seems to have the most impact on how invasive it becomes. Shade and poorer soil do seem to curtail its takeover attempts.
The flower spikes bloom from July to September and make excellent cut flowers that stay attractive a long while in the vase. In the fall the leaves turn a rich golden colour.
Nasty habits aside, I find it to be most attractive and worthy of sharing for Floral Art Friday.
