Lysimachia ciliata Firecracker - Loosestrife

You will be amazed by the slightly turbulent mass of Lysimachia ciliata 'Firecracker'. This vegetal whirlwind forms strong, upright clumps, covered in a changing uniform of chocolate-purple in spring, which becomes greener in summer with a purple lining. In autumn, the foliage takes on yellow, orange, and copper-red tones. In summer, it is illuminated by small bright yellow flowers. This bold and vigorous perennial ensures a colour revolution in the garden. Suitable for ordinary soil, in the sun.

Lysimachia ciliata 'Firecracker' belongs to the Primulaceae family. It is a colourful variety of L. ciliata var. purpurea, a wild flower native to North America (except for the southwest). In nature, the latter is found near forests and in fields. It is a vigorous rhizomatous plant that spreads rapidly, sometimes forming a significant colony. This tall perennial forms a vertically growing tuft of richly coloured vegetation, reaching a height of 1m (3ft) with a spread of 50cm (20in). The foliage starts off burgundy-purple, and becomes green-purple in summer. Flowering appears between June and August. The abundant flowers are star-shaped, solitary or in pairs, with 5 very bright yellow petals marked with purple at the base. They are slightly pendulous. They form in the axils of the upper leaves. The leaves can reach a length of 15cm (6in). They are lanceolate, downy, and turn dark purple-violet in summer. The veins are highly visible on the sour green undersides of the leaves. This plant has a powerful root system.

Lysimachia ciliata 'Firecracker' can prove too vigorous to be planted at the edge of a border, but it is a fantastic perennial in containers or at the base of bushes. The contrasting and ever-changing combination of its flowers and foliage is particularly pleasant when combined with orange or red blooms and silver-leaved artemisia. It forms a happy association with late-flowering tulips, providing both a setting for their flowers and a mask when they disappear in summer. In our garden, it has found its place in a mixed border, alongside 'Burrow Silver' spurge, purple fennel, alchemilla, and the beautiful Physocarpus opulifolius 'Diabolo'.