GardenWorld Home

Water Garden homepage print this page
• About Bog Plants
• Bog Arums
• Asiatic Primulas
• More Colour
• Getting Started
• More for Less
Bog PlantsMore Colour
One plant that is common alongside our own streams, ponds and in wet places is the very colourful Lythrum salicaria, widely known as 'Purple Loosestrife'. The spikes carry masses of rosy-pink flowers that grow to 90cm (36"). It is a useful plant as it flowers for weeks, commencing in late summer, a time when colour is becoming scarce. A very easily grown vigorous plant that produces tough roots. To avoid prolific self-seeding simply cut off the flower heads before the seed ripens.

There are a number of names varieties, one that has become very popular, and as a result widely available is the pink-flowered 'Blush'. Another good choice is 'Feuerkeze' still often seen listed as 'Firecandle', its name a good indicator of its colour. Another one to look out for is the glowing magenta variety, 'Zigeunerblut'.
Bog Plants Factfile
Caltha I. sibirica P. prolifera Lysichiton Lythrum
Common name  Marsh Marigold  Siberian Iris  Glory of the Bog  Skunk Cabbage  Purple Loosetrife
Family  Ranunculaceae  Iridaceae  Primulaceae  Araceae  Lythraceae
Where from  Europe  Europe/Asia  China  America  Widespread
Grown for  Flowers  Flowers  Flowers  Flowers  Flowers
Toughness  Very  Very  Very  Do not damage roots  Very
Soil preference  Moist  Moist  Humus-rich  Deep, Humus-rich  Moist
Making more  Division  Division  Seed  Seed/Offsets  Division
Best planting time  Spring  Spring  Spring  Spring  Spring
Invasive  No  No  No  No, but allow space  No
How easy (out of 10)  8  8  8  6  9
Special attention  None  None  Best in groups  Generally trouble-free  Remove dead heads
Cultivating Bog Plants

http://www.metoffice.gov.uk/weather/europe/uk/ukforecast.html