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Common Name: Gooseneck Loosestrife

General Information

Lysimachia clethroides is a perennial plant that can grow up to 1.00 metres tall.
It is harvested from the wild for local use as a food.

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

, ,

Range

E. Asia - China, Japan. Naturalized in Holland.

Habitat

Sunny grassy hills and at low altitudes in mountains all over Japan[, ]. Damp woodland margins, wet ravines and grassy mountain slopes at elevations of 300 - 2100 metres in China[].

Properties

Edibility Rating
Habit	Perennial
Height	1.00 m
Pollinators	Insects
Self-fertile	Yes
Cultivation Status	Wild

Cultivation Details

An easily grown plant, succeeding in a moist loamy soil[]. Grows well in heavy clay soils. Succeeds in sun or semi-shade[].
Hardy to about -25°c[].
Most species in this genus seem to be immune to the predations of rabbits[].
Succeeds in a woodland or semi-wild garden, it often spreads wildly[].

Edible Uses

Leaves and young shoots - cooked and used as a vegetable[]. A famine food, they are only used when all else fails[]. They can also be used as a condiment[, , ].
Fruits and flowers are said to be edible[, ] but no further details are given. The fruit is very small[].

Medicinal

None known

Other Uses

None known

Propagation

Seed - sow autumn in a cold frame[]. When they are large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and plant them out in the summer.
Division in spring or autumn[]. Larger clumps can be replanted direct into their permanent positions, though it is best to pot up smaller clumps and grow them on in a cold frame until they are rooting well. Plant them out in the spring.