Flower profile
Fringed loosestrife
Lysimachia ciliata
Fringed loosestrife (Lysimachia ciliata) is a flowering plant in the Primulaceae family, native in the lower 48 states, blooming mostly June–August across the U.S.
Fringed loosestrife is a wildflower that USDA PLANTS lists as native in the lower 48 states. It's on our flower lists for 2 states, and across the U.S. it's most often seen in bloom in June–August.
*iNaturalist research-grade observations, as of October 17, 2026.
On our lists for: Connecticut, Vermont
Quick look
Lysimachia ciliata, the fringed loosestrife, is a species of flowering plant in the family Primulaceae. It is an erect herbaceous perennial growing to 120 cm (47 in) tall and 60 cm (24 in) broad, with opposite, simple leaves, and smooth green stems. The star-shaped yellow flowers are borne in midsummer.
- It belongs to the Primulaceae family. iNaturalist
- USDA PLANTS describes it as an herb (forb) with a perennial life cycle. USDA PLANTS
- USDA PLANTS lists it as native in the lower 48 states and records it in 45 states. USDA PLANTS
- NatureServe lists it as native to Vermont and Connecticut. NatureServe
- In Vermont, most iNaturalist sightings of it in flower come in July–August. iNaturalist
- In Connecticut, most iNaturalist sightings of it in flower come in June–August. iNaturalist
- iNaturalist has 1,202 research-grade sightings of it in Vermont, ranking #72 among the 159 flowers on our Vermont list. iNaturalist
- iNaturalist has 476 research-grade sightings of it in Connecticut, ranking #103 among the 179 flowers on our Connecticut list. iNaturalist
When does it bloom?
Bloom time in the 2 states whose Bloomipedia list includes it
| State | Type | Peak bloom | Sightings* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vermont | Native | July–August | 1,202 |
| Connecticut | Native | June–August | 476 |
Conservation status
- Federal (U.S. ESA)
- Not listed No U.S. Endangered Species Act listing in the USFWS ECOS database. USFWS ECOS
- NatureServe global
- G5 Secure worldwide. NatureServe
- Vermont
- Not listed Not on Endangered and Threatened Plants of Vermont (10 V.S.A. chap. 123; list of Feb 10, 2022). NatureServe: S5, secure in Vermont. Vermont E&T list
- Connecticut
- Not listed Not on Connecticut Endangered, Threatened and Special Concern Plants (RCSA 26-306; 2015 list). NatureServe: SNR, not yet ranked in Connecticut. CT E/T/SC list
- Rare elsewhere
- Other states where NatureServe ranks it rare or missing: UT (S2). (S1 critically imperiled, S2 imperiled, SH possibly extirpated, SX presumed extirpated.)
Checked October 17, 2026. Rankings and lists can change, so follow the links for the latest.
Can you eat it?
NC State Extension notes: “The cooked leaves of this plant are said to be edible.” NC State Extension
It isn't on the ASPCA plant list, and NC State Extension doesn't flag it for pets.
🌿 Never eat a wild plant unless you're certain of its ID; this isn't medical advice. Worried about a person? Call Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222. Worried about a pet? Call your vet.
Where does it grow?
USDA PLANTS records fringed loosestrife in 45 states plus Washington, D.C.
recorded by USDA PLANTS on our state lists not recorded
See the full list of states
Alabama, Alaska, Arkansas, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin, Wyoming; District of Columbia.
Vermont counties with USDA records: Addison, Bennington, Caledonia, Chittenden, Essex, Franklin, Grand Isle, Lamoille, Orange, Orleans, Rutland, Washington, Windham, Windsor.
Names, range and relatives
Native status by region (USDA PLANTS): Alaska: Native; Canada: Native; Lower 48 states: Native.
Other scientific names (synonyms in USDA PLANTS): Steironema ciliatum, Steironema pumilum.
County records: USDA PLANTS lists it in 1294 counties across 43 states; the most are in Illinois (93), Ohio (88), Virginia (83).
Other Lysimachia on Bloomipedia (7): Scarlet pimpernel, Northern starflower, Western starflower, Creeping jenny, Whorled loosestrife, Swamp candles, Arctic starflower.
More from the Primulaceae family (14 on Bloomipedia; most observed first): Henderson's shooting star, Eastern shooting star, Coralberry, Dark-throated shooting star, Shoebutton ardisia, Parry's primrose, Kōlea lau nui.
More Vermont flowers
Sources
- USDA, NRCS. PLANTS Database, profile LYCI.
- iNaturalist, Lysimachia ciliata: taxonomy, research-grade observation counts and “Flowering” annotations, retrieved October 17, 2026.
- Wikipedia, Lysimachia ciliata (lead quoted under CC BY-SA 4.0).
- Vermont: Endangered and Threatened Plants of Vermont (10 V.S.A. chap. 123; list of Feb 10, 2022).
- Vermont: Vermont Quarantine List, Regulated Introduced Plant Species Rule (eff. June 16, 2026).
- Connecticut: Connecticut Endangered, Threatened and Special Concern Plants (RCSA 26-306; 2015 list).
- Connecticut: Connecticut prohibited invasive plants (Conn. Gen. Stat. § 22a-381d).
- USFWS, ECOS species database (ESA listing check), October 17, 2026.
- NatureServe Explorer, Lysimachia ciliata (global and state ranks).
- Edibility and toxicity: NC State Extension.
- Photo: Tom Scavo via iNaturalist · CC BY 4.0 · resized.