Lysimachia thyrsiflora
Tufted loosestrife
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Family: Myrsinaceae · Type: Herb · Native
Conservation status: CNPS 2B.3
Lysimachia thyrsiflora (Tufted loosestrife) is a native California herb in the Myrsinaceae family, recognized by key features: tall unbranched stems, dense axillary flower clusters, mountain wetlands.
Tufted loosestrife is a California native perennial with a rare (CNPS 2B.3) distribution found in the Klamath Ranges, northern California Ranges, northern Sierra Nevada Foothills, and northern Sierra Nevada at elevations of 800 to 1,300 meters in wet habitats. Flowering from June to August, this plant produces yellow flowers in tight racemes nestled in leaf axils, with linear petals 3 to 5 millimeters long. Growing with erect, unbranched stems 30 to 80 centimeters tall that are glabrous or slightly hairy near the top, it forms distinctive clusters of blossoms. Its leaves are opposite or whorled, lanceolate or elliptic, measuring 5 to 12 centimeters long, with smaller leaves often falling early in the season. The fruit develops as a 5 to 6-valved capsule that is roughly ovoid and larger than the flower's calyx.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 6 sympatric species; key features: tall unbranched stems, dense axillary flower clusters, mountain wetlands
Habitat and range
Habitat: Wet places
Elevation: 800-1300 m
California counties: Shasta, Plumas
Outside California: to Alaska, eastern North America, Eurasia
Bloom period
Lysimachia thyrsiflora blooms Jun-Aug.
Conservation status
CNPS 2B.3
How to tell it apart
vs Modiola: Lysimachia has stamens opposite petals; Modiola has stamens fused in a central column.; vs Euphorbia: Lysimachia has true petals; spurge has petal-like bracts around flower clusters and milky sap.; vs Honckenya: Lysimachia has stamens opposite petals; sandwort has stamens alternating with petals.; vs Erythranthe: Lysimachia has radially symmetric flowers; monkeyflower has bilateral tubular flowers.; vs Veronica: Lysimachia has 5 petals and stamens opposite petals; speedwell has 4 petals and 2 stamens.
Frequently asked questions
Is Lysimachia thyrsiflora native to California?
Yes. Lysimachia thyrsiflora is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Lysimachia thyrsiflora bloom?
Lysimachia thyrsiflora blooms Jun-Aug.
Where in California does Lysimachia thyrsiflora grow?
Lysimachia thyrsiflora occurs in Shasta, Plumas, at elevations of 800-1300 m.
What plant family does Lysimachia thyrsiflora belong to?
Lysimachia thyrsiflora is in the Myrsinaceae family, genus Lysimachia.
Is Lysimachia thyrsiflora rare or endangered?
Lysimachia thyrsiflora carries California Rare Plant Rank 2B.3, state rank S1?.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · CNPS Rare Plant Inventory · Index of California Plant Names · CalPhotos · CDFW CNDDB
Last updated 2026-10-07
Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Cal-IPC, and more.