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A friend recently asked about this plant in my garden, and I couldn’t think of the name. But can you blame me? How am I supposed to keep track of all these things I buy and plant willy nilly. I figure it’s better than letting them go distressed as I wring my hands worrying about the perfect site. Am I alone on this front? Or is just this part of that ten thousand count–wherein gardeners buy and have no idea where they’re going to plant? I strive to be better. But I am not.

Lysimachia paridiformis var. stenophylla getting ready to bloom.

They claim the common name is Loosestrife, but that seems hard to believe.

I rarely see this plant available for sale, and I only have this because Megan blogged about it way back when on Nestmaker. And it also explains why all I could think of name-wise was ‘Death Star’. I knew it wasn’t right, but there was the association. (See Megan’s blog on lookalikes for further details.) Later, when we were plant shopping, Megan espied this Lysimachia and advised me to snap it up. I accommodated her good idea right away.

We transplanted this particular plant from our previous garden–and it’s a good thing, what with the unfortunate poisoning of everything left behind.

Lysimachia, Saxifraga, and NOID Fern in a former garden.

That was a good bed under old lace leaf maples, with the Loostrife, Saxafraga stolonifera ‘Maroon Beauty’ and several NOID Epimediums. They were my firsts, given to me by a neighbor. Wish I’d paid better attention, but then I had no appreciation of the love affair that was to ensure.

And here’s another shot of Lace Leaf garden from the sidewalk.

Lace Leaf Maple Shade Garden with Hakonechloa macra ‘Aureola’ and self-seeded Ferns.

Sigh. I always remind myself that the new peeps had every right to change the garden to their liking. But seriously, how could anyone look at this and think poison was the ticket?

But I digress.

If you can get your hands on the Lysimachia, take advantage. And it will make all your dreams come true. I swear. Cistus Nursery lists as Zone 7. Far Reaches shows Zone 6. Fair warning.

Cheers