Identifying a garden Plant

(Question)

Hi

I live in Brampton, Ontario. I have a plant that comes back every year and is almost indestructible. It has yellow flower that come out in the spring on the tips (each flower has 6 petals) I cannot seem to identify it. Is it Invasive? I can’t seem to find out what it is. Can you help?

Regards,

Ralph

(Answer)

Thank you for contacting Toronto Master Gardeners about your cheery perennial plant.

I believe it to be Fringed Loosestrife (Lysimachia ciliata) in the Primrose family.  https://www.illinoiswildflowers.info/wetland/plants/fr_loosestrife.htm

This description, while botanically technical, describes the plant well and includes interesting information about its floral oil and pollen both of value to native bees. Another web entry announces ‘In his 1597 manual, English herbalist John Gerard wrote about a use of fringed yellow-loosestrife: fresh plants were tucked into the yokes of oxen, “appeasing the strife and unrulinesse which falleth out among oxen at the plough…”‘

The root system consists of a taproot and rhizomes. This wildflower reproduces by its seeds or vegetatively through its rhizomes.Well contained as you are growing it, is probably the optimum position.

Enjoy your lovely volunteer for year to come.