Origin and Distribution
From a botanical point of view, the Goldfelberich belongs to the primrose family (Primulaceae) and is very widespread in a feral form in Central and Southern Europe. You will find the splendidly blooming shrub, which probably originally came from Turkey or the south-east European region, primarily on the banks of rivers and streams and on damp meadows. Lysimachia punctata has been cultivated in gardens for several hundred years, from where the very vigorous plant made its way into the wild.
also read
- When does the gold field bloom?
- Is the Goldfelberich poisonous?
- Do you have to cut the gold leaf area regularly?
use
In the garden, the golden field is mainly used in the perennial bed, either as a lush, overgrown single planting or in combination with other sun-loving perennials such as cranesbill (geranium), blood loosestrife (Lythrum salicaria), sedum, lady's mantle (alchemilla), flame flower ( Phlox), lupine (Lupinus), summer sparrow (Spiraea) or various ferns. Combinations of different types of gold leaf also look very nice.
The distinctive perennial comes into its own wherever other flowering plants thrive: Small embankments, nutrient-poor or otherwise difficult locations (e.g. splintered areas) as well as for border planting (e.g. on garden ponds or along groups of trees) is ideal and creates here blooming oases from unsightly patches of garden in no time at all. It is also one of the characteristic flowering perennials of a traditional cottage garden.
Furthermore, the gold field - especially in combination with different colored summer flowers and grasses - is suitable as a durable cut flower for colorful bouquets.
growth
It is a perennial, herbaceous perennial that can grow up to 100 centimeters high. Individually planted plants form runners very quickly, all of which are connected to one another via a common root system. Numerous, upright and unbranched stems sprout from the thick roots. Goldfelberich grows and covers bald spots in the garden very quickly. However, the strong growth must be halted by suitable measures, as the robust perennial would otherwise crowd out other plants.
Goldfelberich copes very well with root pressure, which is why it is also very suitable for underplanting trees and tall trunks.
Flowering and flowering period
The heart of the Goldfelberich are its bright golden yellow flowers, which appear numerous and lush between June and August. The individual flowers sit in groups of three or four comparatively large individual flowers close together in the leaf axils. They form a tiered, large panicle that catches the observer's eye from afar.
leaves
The bright, summer green foliage is also lively and arranged in layers on the stem. The individual, dull leaves have a lanceolate shape with a broad base, are smooth, have entire margins and are rather coarse. In the bottom area, the leaves are also longer and wider than at the top of the plant, and they shrink evenly from bottom to top.
fruit
In autumn, the goldfish forms capsule fruits from which, if you are not careful, large-scale self-sowing takes place. The seeds are also spread by wind and thus reach more distant garden areas - or even the neighbour's garden.
Is gold fox poisonous?
Lysimachia punctata is not poisonous for humans, dogs, cats and other animals and is therefore ideal for the family garden. The herb can only be dangerous for small rodents such as rabbits or guinea pigs, which is why runs should not be placed in the immediate vicinity of a plantation. However, the small animals usually avoid the plant on their own.
In earlier times the gold field was also used in folk medicine, for example to alleviate or heal inflammation.
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Which location is suitable?
Lysimachia punctata feels most comfortable in a sunny to partially shaded location. A lot of sun can shine the blossoms even more, but the perennial also gets along well in places with less light. But it shouldn't be completely dark: you should choose more suitable plants for the shade.
What soil does the plant need?
So that you can enjoy the magnificent flowering plant even more, it is best to place it in loose, nutrient-rich, humus-rich and rather moist soil. Whether it is sandy, clay or loamy, rather light or heavy, on the other hand, does not matter - only the water storage capacity should be well developed. Goldfelberich needs a lot of water, which is especially important for sunny locations. However, the plant also tolerates dry phases well for a short time.
Mulch the soil, something like a mixture of well-rotted compost and bark mulch, so that the moisture stays in the soil longer. This not only provides the perennial with nutrients, but also reduces maintenance.
Sowing and pricking
Between April and June, bring the seeds of the Goldfelberich to the desired location. Prepare the soil well, loosen it with a hoe and rake, remove weeds and, if necessary, mix ripe compost into the potting soil. After germination, separate the plants at intervals of approx. 20 centimeters.
Prefer
As gold fox usually germinates very quickly, it is not necessary to advance it. If you still want to do it, move the plants on the windowsill to the beginning of March and place them in the garden bed after the ice saints. Autumn is the right time to plant for rooted cuttings.
What is the best time to plant?
Plant young plants in the bed either in autumn or in spring. The only requirement is that there is no ground frost and none is expected for the next few weeks.
The correct planting distance
There is space for about eight to ten plants per square meter, with a planting distance of about 30 to 40 centimeters at best.
Culture in the pot
Goldfelberich is very suitable for a bucket culture. Choose a pot that is as wide and deep as possible and a nutrient-rich humus-based substrate (alternatively, mix conventional potting soil with compost) and ensure an even and balanced supply of water and nutrients. With regard to fertilization, it is basically sufficient to replace the plant substrate annually with the mixture already mentioned. The yellow loosestrife is a runners-forming deep-rooted plant that needs a lot of space in its planter.
Propagate gold furry
Lysimachia punctata is very prolific. The easiest way to reproduce it is by dividing groups of plants that have grown too large, which you can do in late summer or early autumn. Alternatively, a division is also possible in spring. To do this, dig up the plants and divide the rhizomes with a sharp, clean knife or hedge trimmer. (€ 135.56 at Amazon *) At least two strong shoots should remain per root section.
Alternatively, you can multiply the gold field over the inevitably appearing root runners, which you carefully dig up and separate from the maternal rootstock. You can basically do this during the entire growing season.
Enclose
The vigorous growth and the tendency to proliferate have already been mentioned several times. In order to prevent uncontrolled spreading, it makes sense to limit it. This can be done, for example, from a stone root barrier around the perennial bed. Regular removal of the root runners also helps to keep the herb within its limits.
Pour gold furry
Goldfelberich likes it moist, which is why it has to be watered regularly in dry locations during the summer months. An additional water supply is not necessary in naturally moist places, for example on the bank of a pond or stream or on a moist meadow. But be careful: Lysimachia punctata does not suffer from waterlogging - like so many other perennials - it leads to root rot and thus to diseases and ultimately to the death of the plants.
Fertilize the gold field properly
If the gold field is planted, fertilization is only necessary every two to three years. Ripe compost, which may be mixed with lawn clippings, is used for mulching is suitable for this.
How do I transplant properly?
Goldfelberich can be transplanted very well, which can be done in spring or autumn. Take this opportunity to divide roots that have grown too large and thus gain more plants.
Cut gold flesh correctly
If you do not want to obtain seeds, cut off dead stems in autumn. Go ahead and take a radical approach and leave only a little bit about a hand's breadth high. If this measure was neglected, the pruning can be made up for in spring before budding.
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Hardy
Goldfelberich is absolutely hardy, which is why special measures are unnecessary in the cold season. Be careful not to water the plant in winter, especially not at temperatures below freezing.
Pests
The robust Goldfelberich is rarely attacked by pests. Only snails find the young and tender shoots very tasty, which is why putting up a snail fence is a sensible measure.
Even pests that suckle caterpillars and sap, such as aphids, are rarely found on the gold field. Plant manure (especially from comfrey or nettles) helps against these uninvited guests, caterpillars should also be collected and heavily affected parts of the plant should be cut back generously and disposed of directly in household waste.
Diseases
Lysimachia punctata also shows great resistance to diseases. Basically, only rot can become a problem. The main reasons for this are permanently too wet, too cold and / or too dark locations. If the plant shows signs of rot - for example when it seems to dry up despite apparently sufficient soil moisture or frequent watering and it also smells musty and the earth is moldy - it is sometimes through digging, a vigorous pruning of both the upper parts of the plant and the roots as well as a Implement to save.
Wilted, rotten or yellow or brown discolored sections and leaves should always be cut off thoroughly and disposed of with household waste. Such plant parts can contain fungal or other pathogens that multiply magnificently on the compost and infect other garden plants from there.
Goldfelberich does not bloom
If the gold field does not bloom, this can have various causes. The most common reason for not blooming is a location that is too dark: Even if it is often claimed that Lysimachia punctata also thrives in the shade, this information should be treated with caution. The perennial actually needs a lot of sun and warmth for lush flowering, which is why a partially shaded location is necessary.
The second cause of weak or non-blooming is too poor a substrate and thus a lack of nutrients. However, you can quickly remedy this situation by administering suitable fertilizers. Compost is very well suited for this, but you can also water the gold field with a nutrient-rich plant manure made from comfrey, nettles and rock flour (€ 14.95 at Amazon *). This also has the advantage of acting much faster than compost.
Tips
To keep Lysimachia punctata in check in its growth, simply cut regularly flowering stems close to the ground in the edge areas. These can be used wonderfully as cut flowers for the vase and are particularly effective in combination with various colored summer flowers, flowering perennials and grasses.
sorts
Lysimachia punctata 'Hometown Hero'
'Hometown Hero' is a rather low variant that reaches heights between 40 and 70 centimeters. In width, the clump-forming plant reaches a diameter of up to 250 centimeters. The large flowers appear between June and August and have a darker yellow color compared to the wild variety, and the foliage is also a deeper green.
Lysimachia punctata 'Alexander'
The most striking feature of this interesting variety is the two-tone white foliage. The variegated leaves form an exciting contrast to the large golden yellow flowers, which, like the wild form, appear between June and August. This variant grows significantly less than the species, but is more sensitive to frost. At least in the first few years, 'Alexander' needs light winter protection, for example by covering the planting area with fir or spruce branches after pruning. The variety reaches an average height of up to 70 centimeters.
Lysimachia punctata 'Golden Alexander'
The 'Golden Alexander' variety has the same characteristics as 'Alexander', but in contrast to it, it has attractive, two-tone, gold-rimmed leaves.
Lysimachia punctata 'Senior'
The 'Senior' variety, which can grow up to 80 centimeters in height, is considered robust and uncomplicated. It is vigorous, forms a lot of root runners and is therefore perfect for overgrowing larger areas. We recommend planting up to six plants per square meter.
Lysimachia x cultorum 'Candela'
This is not a variety of the Goldfelberich, but a white-flowering hybrid. The species, also known as Herbstfelberich, shows beautiful white, star-shaped flowers between July and August. The plant reaches heights of between 25 and 40 centimeters, forms numerous root runners and is therefore often used as a ground cover.
Lysimachia clethroides, snow field
This type of celeriac scores with its pure white, delicate and slightly overhanging inflorescences. The rather large, diagonal flowers measuring about ten centimeters appear quite late between July and August. The snow field grows up to 80 centimeters high and 40 centimeters wide, but is much less vigorous than the gold field. In addition, Lysimachia clethroides needs light winter protection.
Lysimachia ciliata, Lashed loosestrife 'Firecracker'
This beautiful loosestrife has striking, dark red foliage, which forms a striking contrast to the bright yellow flowers. The vigorous ornamental leaf shrub grows up to 80 centimeters high and requires similar location and care conditions as the closely related golden field.
