Fringed Loosestrife 'Firecracker'

The early foliage is lovely and near black but it spreads like wildfire. I have it planted it shade and sun and it doesn't slow down a bi...Read Moret. Be real careful where you plant it. It will run over smaller plants with ease.

I've had these tucked into a shale rock ledge, at the back of my garden, for about 6 years. Has established an area about 4 by 3 ft. Beau...Read Moretiful purple foliage in the spring fades to an olive green in summer. Flowers are small, but really stand out against the foliage. I really didn't know they preferred moist rich soil. They are doing fine on that rocky ledge.

I've admired the dark maroon spring foliage of this plant, though it tends to fade to green as the season progresses. The yellow summer f...Read Morelowers are small but not unattractive.

However, this is not a good neighbor to other plants in a mixed border. It spreads aggressively underground by shallow rhizomes and easily overwhelms its neighbors unless it receives regular attention and maintenance. A root barrier could be used to reduce maintenance. I would recommend planting it in a sunken 10 gal (or larger) container with the bottom cut out.

I can't distinguish this cultivar from 'Atropurpurea', and I wonder if it isn't just a re-name.

This is native to most of North America, from Alaska to Florida, and no threat to wild areas here. In the garden, it's a thug.

I have this plant - though it may not be the selection, 'Firecracker' - growing along my stream and pond system in the backyard, in deep ...Read Moreshade. It mingles nicely with jack-in-the-pulpits and New York ferns. It's positioned so that it gets the spray from the man-made waterfall. It is very easy to transplant, but seems to miss the constant water supply in other places. The burgundy foliage is a very welcome contrast in this environment. Reliable color in damp shade is hard to come by, so I highly recommend it.