PLANT FINDER
Morden's Gleam Loosestrife
Lythrum virgatum 'Morden's Gleam'
Plant Height: 24 inches
Flower Height: 5 feet
Spacing: 18 inches
Sunlight:
Hardiness Zone: 4a
Other Names: Morden Gleam Loosestrife
Description:
This seedless cultivar is not considered invasive and adds superb late summer color to the garden; dazzling hot pink spikes rise up, contrasing the green foliage; prefers sun but will tolerate light shade; a great pondside plant
Ornamental Features
Morden's Gleam Loosestrife has masses of beautiful spikes of hot pink flowers rising above the foliage from mid to late summer, which are most effective when planted in groupings. The flowers are excellent for cutting. Its narrow leaves remain bluish-green in color throughout the season.
Landscape Attributes
Morden's Gleam Loosestrife is a dense herbaceous perennial with an upright spreading habit of growth. Its medium texture blends into the garden, but can always be balanced by a couple of finer or coarser plants for an effective composition.
This plant will require occasional maintenance and upkeep, and should be cut back in late fall in preparation for winter. It is a good choice for attracting bees, butterflies and hummingbirds to your yard. It has no significant negative characteristics.
Morden's Gleam Loosestrife is recommended for the following landscape applications;
- Border Edging
- Groundcover
- Container Planting
- Bog Gardens
Planting & Growing
Morden's Gleam Loosestrife will grow to be about 24 inches tall at maturity extending to 5 feet tall with the flowers, with a spread of 24 inches. When grown in masses or used as a bedding plant, individual plants should be spaced approximately 18 inches apart. Its foliage tends to remain dense right to the ground, not requiring facer plants in front. It grows at a fast rate, and under ideal conditions can be expected to live for approximately 5 years. As an herbaceous perennial, this plant will usually die back to the crown each winter, and will regrow from the base each spring. Be careful not to disturb the crown in late winter when it may not be readily seen!
This plant does best in full sun to partial shade. It is quite adaptable, prefering to grow in average to wet conditions, and will even tolerate some standing water. It is not particular as to soil type or pH. It is highly tolerant of urban pollution and will even thrive in inner city environments. This is a selected variety of a species not originally from North America. It can be propagated by division; however, as a cultivated variety, be aware that it may be subject to certain restrictions or prohibitions on propagation.
Morden's Gleam Loosestrife is a fine choice for the garden, but it is also a good selection for planting in outdoor pots and containers. With its upright habit of growth, it is best suited for use as a 'thriller' in the 'spiller-thriller-filler' container combination; plant it near the center of the pot, surrounded by smaller plants and those that spill over the edges. It is even sizeable enough that it can be grown alone in a suitable container. Note that when growing plants in outdoor containers and baskets, they may require more frequent waterings than they would in the yard or garden.
Characteristics
Applications
Ornamental Features