I first saw this plant in my friend’s cottage. Tall (taller than me!) the lush flowering bush was impressive. After the first admiration, I began to ask the hostess what was what.
It turned out that this beauty is called Loosestrife, or Lythrum. Undemanding perennial plant, blooming in our latitudes until the beginning of July, and in favorable conditions until September. Later in the literature I read that the height of a bush of a Loose shrub reaches from 60 to 140 cm (2-4. 6 feet), but in practice I was convinced that for him the growth of 180 — 190 cm (5.9-6.2 feet) is quite real.
This plant loves moisture. My friend’s site is very wet, so loose that she feels great even in the sun. In my garden, I chose a place for it in partial shade, or rather, where it is sunny in the morning and shadow in the afternoon. The only thing that this unpretentious guest does not tolerate is droughts. If the rain is short and the soil is dry, it will have to be watered.
Otherwise, there will be no difficulties with growing loose grass, it will not cause problems even for a beginner or a very busy gardener. Just plant a bush, choosing a suitable place for it. A loose shrub grows well even in wetlands, has periodic flooding and develops normally on heavy soil-as long as it contains a sufficient amount of nutrients. This is a real godsend for those who have damp corners in the garden where few flowers can develop.
It is propagated by a loose shrub, mainly by dividing the bush. And for this, there is no need to dig the plant completely — an adult plant just needs to cut off a particle of the desired size with a sharp shovel and fill the hole with soil. Divide the loose grass in the spring – in April or May, but you can do it in the fall; when planting, mature compost should be added to the soil.
Theoretically, it can be propagated by seeds (under favorable conditions, self-seeding is possible), and cuttings, but I did not have the opportunity to check this information — there was no need. Seeds are recommended to be sown superficially, only slightly covering the top with moist soil. Cuttings loosen in May, when young shoots grow well. The recommended length of cuttings is 10 cm/3.9 inches (from 4 to 6 leaves); plant them in a greenhouse before rooting.
In the garden, a loose shrub can grow independently or become part of a plant composition. The foot of the bush will be successfully covered by a Garden lady-a mantle or a host. So in any case, a large, brightly blooming bush will not go unnoticed.
A loose shrub on the bank of a large pond will look good (for small ponds, it is probably too large). And it can also be used to disguise boring fences or other not very attractive garden objects — it grows quickly, the bush keeps well in shape and retains its decorative appearance for a long time.
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