When the days get shorter and the first night frosts appear, many gardeners are wondering which plants they need to move to warm winter quarters. What about purple loosestrife, for example? Can it hibernate outside or will frosty temperatures harm it?
Is loosestrife hardy and how does it overwinter?
The purple loosestrife is hardy and can overwinter in the garden bed without protective measures. However, if the garden pond is close to water, precautions must be taken, such as digging it up and storing it in a cool interior or temporarily transplanting it into the bed.
The purple loosestrife - a native ornamental plant
The purple loosestrife is native and grows on bank edges and in boggy and swampy areas. So he is used to the local climate. It thrives preferably in the sun, but partial shade is also tolerated. If it is too dark, it usually does not reach its maximum height of 2 m. The flowering is also smaller.
Note: In the autumn after flowering, small seeds form in the wilted inflorescences, with the help of which loosestrife multiplies rapidly in winter. To prevent widespread spread, remove all dead parts of the plant.
Is purple loosestrife hardy?
As it is a native plant, purple loosestrife can also tolerate frosty temperatures. Nevertheless, the location for overwintering plays a crucial role. In the garden bed, the perennial can spend the winter outdoors without any protective measures. However, if it grows near water, there is a risk of frost damage in sub-zero temperatures.
Overwintering purple loosestrife as a bank plant
How to overwinter your loosestrife correctly, if necessary:
- Dig up the plant before the first frost
- Place the root ball in a bucket of water
- store in a cool place
- Stairwells or garages are suitable as winter quarters
Note: If there is not enough capacity in the house, you can alternatively plant loosestrife in the garden bed. The following spring, dig it up again and put it in its usual location by the garden pond.
Wintering in a bucket
The purple loosestrife can also survive the winter in the garden or on the balcony in a pot. However, you should make sure that the substrate does not freeze completely to ensure an adequate water supply. To do this, insulate the bucket with foil (€17.00 on Amazon) or brushwood mat. It is also a prerequisite that the bucket has a large capacity.
