Gooseneck Loosestrife Pollinator Magnet

A carpenter bee visits Bluebird Gardens gooseneck loosestrife just starting to bloom.

Summer is still a couple of weeks away but the summer-flowering plants aren't waiting to get started. One of my favorites is gooseneck loosestrife, Lysimachia clethroides, a perennial with tiny white flowers that drape when in bloom.

Pollinators of all shapes and sizes also like these flowers. From bumblebees to butterflies, the patch of blooms will soon be buzzing with visitors, especially early morning.

Gooseneck loosestrife can be invasive. It propagates through runners, much like mint, and can grow in either sun or shade. I have encouraged it to grow in garden spots with ample room so bees and other pollinators can collect the nectar and pollen.

Charlotte