About Lysimachia ciliata L.
Lysimachia ciliata, commonly called fringed loosestrife, is a flowering plant species belonging to the Primulaceae family. It is an erect herbaceous perennial that grows up to 120 cm (47 in) tall and 60 cm (24 in) wide. It has smooth green stems and opposite, simple leaves. Its star-shaped yellow flowers bloom in midsummer. This species is native to North America, where it occurs across most of southern Canada and most of the United States, excluding the southwest. A notable characteristic of L. ciliata is that it is one of the few Lysimachia species that produces elaiophores, meaning it provides oil rather than nectar as a reward for pollinators. In the northern portion of its native range, it is pollinated by the specialist oil bee Macropis nuda, a native bee species that depends on this host plant to survive. L. ciliata is also grown as an ornamental plant. It can grow aggressively, but new suckers can be removed easily to keep the plant's size controlled. The most common cultivars of L. ciliata are L. ciliata 'Firecracker' and L. ciliata 'Purpurea'. The 'Firecracker' cultivar has received the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit.
