Friday, October 7, 2011

LYSIMACHIA

The name Lysimachia has a long history; it was given by Dioscorides, a physician in Nero's army of the first century A.d. for King Lysimachus of Thrace. Today's genus, part of the primrose family (Primulaceae) with around 150 species of perennials and subshrubs, is found not only in Thrace (northern Greece) but also over much of Europe and Asia as well as North America and South Africa. A few species are low spreading plants but most are clump-forming perennials with narrow, lance-shapped, often hairy leaves and upright spikes of small 5-petalled flowers, often in yellow shades, very rarely white or purple-pink. The flowers appear from early summer to autumn:when they appear en masse, they can create quite a dramatic feature in a garden.


CULTIVATION


Some species prefer the damp soil of pond margins or stream banks, others thrive in rockeries, but most are perfectly happy in full or half sun with moist well-drained garden soil. Propagate by division, from basal cuttings, or from layers, depending on the growth type.


Top Tip


In colder climates, plants tht are not fully hardy will benefit from being overwintered in a greenhouse. Mulch can also be applied around the roots as extra protection.

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