Goldilocks

Class

Dicotyledons

Division

Angiospermae

Family

Primulaceae

Order

Ericales

Genus

Lysimachia

Species

congestiflora

Description

A perennial ornamental herbaceous plant with a drooping habit, whose decorative foliage and ease of management make it ideal both for adding decorative value to terraces, balconies and window sills in tubs, planters and hanging baskets, and for flowerbeds where it takes on a prostrate habit, creating a dense green cover accentuated from late spring to early summer by small yellow flowers.

Variety description

The lysimachia is a plant with bright light green coloured leaves in mid-shade and lime green in brighter exposures or with direct sunlight several hours a day. It adapts to any exposure and pot size, but also in flowerbeds, where it grows with a prostrate habit. Easy to grow all year round, it is used alone in tubs or in mixes also on balconies together with flowering plants in spring and summer, or varieties with colourful leaves, especially in autumn, such as various heuchera, muehlenbeckia or calocephalus.

Curiosities and special features

The genus name was bestowed in honour of the Macedonian king Lysimachus and means 'to end the conflict' in Greek, while the specific epithet derives from the Latin words 'congestus' meaning massed, full and 'flos' meaning flower in reference to the inflorescences.

In some areas of origin, the wild form is used as a medicinal as well as an ornamental plant.

Origin and distribution

Native to the humid areas of Nepal, China, Indochina and Taiwan, it grows mainly in temperate biomes; now widespread as an ornamental in America and Europe.

Flower size

The flower is small, lending lightness and elegance to the bright bloom.

Leaf

Leaf has a rounded lamina.

Flowering period

Flowering lasts from late spring to early summer for a duration of 70 to 90 days.

Leaf colour

Solid-coloured decorative Leaf.

Plant height

The height of the plant varies from 0.2 to 0.6 m considering its bearing.

Lifespan

It is an evergreen perennial plant.

Where to plant

Appreciated for adding elegance to outdoor spaces and contexts such as flower beds, balconies, outdoor tubs, hanging baskets, planters

Stem

Herbaceous stem, the variety has no thorns.

Flower

The flower is small with solid-coloured petals. It flowers from late spring to early summer, with a flowering period of between 70 and 90 days. It is not particularly attractive to pollinating insects.

Growth

Medium to vigorous Growth decorates the green surroundings in which it is placed very well.

Plant habit

Its drooping habit enhances its use both in flowerbeds and in pots, tubs and baskets.

Branching

The tendency to acclimatise and produce lateral branches is average overall.

PH

The ideal pH conditions of the soil or substrate are rather acidic, with optimum values between 5.0 and 6.0.

Soil preparation

For the mid-spring-early summer bed transplanting, carry out light digging and remove any weeds and bulky stones or pebbles. Bury slow-release organic or chemical fertiliser, which will provide the necessary nutrients in the plant's first growth phase after planting. If the soil is too compact and poorly draining, it is advisable to also bury sand. Proceed by creating a raised bed by slightly bouldering the soil, to ensure sufficient drainage of excess water that could accumulate and cause root rot, and finally, add 5/10 cm of professional substrate to the surface and carefully level it out.

Sun exposure

It adapts to different types of sun exposure such as half-shade, shade, full sun.

Ideal climate and temperature

The biological temperature is between 4 and 32 °C. The ideal temperature is between 16 and 22 °C; it adapts well to hot summer climates.

Use

Due to its distinctive and elegant foliage, it is considered ideal as a plant in
Outdoor ornamental Outdoor Landscape Design

Hardiness

Variety of medium hardiness; care should be taken to ensure suitable irrigation in proportion to its needs but free from waterlogging.

Soil

The ideal soil for flowerbeds is medium-textured or tending to sandy, well-draining and well-watered; for use in pots and planters, a substrate for spring plants containing peat and perlite is recommended.

Difficulty

A variety that is easy to grow and maintain, the level of management effort required is low.

Growing tips

For better vegetative growth, the following variety-specific cultivation aspects are suggested:
Avoid over-watering Keep the substrate dry at low temperatures

Combinations with other plants

Plant habit and decorative foliage make it suitable both for creating dense monochromatic flowerbed coverings and for mixed compositions with other ornamental Species such as Helichrysum petiolare, Heuchera americana, Heuchera sanguinea, Impatiens New Guinea, Pelargonium x hortorum, Plectranthus coleoides, Scaevola aemula, Vinca major.

Planting

An average density of 13 plants per square metre is recommended for transplanting into flowerbeds in order to achieve a balanced final composition allowing each individual specimen to develop optimum growth.

Take care to take the seedling out of the container without damaging the roots and place it on a raised bed by completely burying the lump, which must be well moist; finally, water immediately after planting, preferably during the morning hours.

Propagation

Mainly by cutting.

Watering

Medium demanding in terms of water supply. Use rainwater, or alternatively aqueduct water, either manually or by means of an irrigation system.

When transplanting, assist the seedling so that it can adequately develop the root system while maintaining a constant humidity but at the same time without overdoing the water supply so as not to cause harmful stagnation. Afterwards allow the soil or substrate to dry out slightly between transplanting operations, avoiding dryness; it is advisable to water with balanced supplies only after checking the soil, preferably during the morning hours.

Fertilising

During pre-transplant soil preparation, carry out a background fertilisation by burying organic or slow release chemical fertiliser. During the spring-summer period, following a correct post-transplant settlement, regularly apply a balanced fertiliser suitable for ornamental species to the soil or substrate at the foot of the plant, to be distributed in liquid form, i.e. diluted in the irrigation water, without exceeding the frequency and doses applied.

Pet safety

Toxicity to pets not known; consider case-specific and do not administer.

Edibility for humans

Ornamental varieties are not edible.

Toxicity for humans

Toxicity not known, avoid ingestion.

Tip

It is moderately demanding with water. The ideal exposure with best results is with 4 hours of shade, 6 hours of full sun and the rest in half-shade. It is also easy to propagate from cuttings or by plant division.