Description
Common name: Purple loosestrife. Créachtach.
General:
Perennial. Beautiful tall flower spikes, with a multitude of purple flowers, up to 1.5m tall. Once established will give years of flowering.
Benefits:
Not only astounding to look at but the many flowers provide for insects in mid to late summer.
Habitat:
This will be happiest beside your wild life pond or stream. Prefers full sun.
Sowing guidelines:
Sow late autumn or early spring into a seed tray, prick out when large enough to handle and plant out when big enough. Dies back over winter to re-emerge from May to flower in July.
Cultural history:
Used to cure gastrointestinal tract diseases, diarrhoea and dysentry in past times. Also has some skin benefits.
