Description of Lythrum salicaria 'Rosey Gem'

Lythrum salicaria 'Rosey Gem' is a compact purple loosestrife for pond edges and wet borders. It brings a long run of pink flowers in summer and it gets busy with bees. It is an easy plant to slot into a bog garden without a lot of fuss.

Appearance

It grows as a tidy clump with upright stems and narrow leaves. Flower spikes build from early to late summer, covered in rose-pink blooms. Depending on how you grow it, expect roughly 40 to 60cm tall, with a similar spread once it settles in.

Care Guide

Give it sun and wet ground, and it will reward you with flowers for weeks.

• Sun: Full sun is best. It will grow in light shade but flowers less.
• Soil: Wet, fertile soil. It is happy in baskets or straight into boggy ground.
• Water: Keep the roots wet. It can sit with a few centimetres of water over the soil line at the margin.
• Deadheading: Snip spent spikes to keep new flowers coming.
• Cut back: In late autumn or late winter, cut stems down to the base.

If the clump gets large, divide it in spring. Replant a piece the size of your fist and it will bounce back quickly.

Suitability for Bog Garden

Lythrum salicaria 'Rosey Gem' is a strong bog garden plant when you want colour at the warmest part of the season. Use it in groups along the front half of the bog so the flowers sit at eye level. It also helps link planting around a pond because it looks good from both sides.

It pairs well with rushes and irises. Put it in front of taller plants like hard rush, or beside broad leaves like hostas to break up the shapes.

If your bog garden is small, this compact form is easier than taller loosestrife types. It gives you the same flower power without taking over the view.

FAQ