Lythrum salicaria ‘Blush’ is a refined, pale-pink variety of the classic purple loosestrife, ideal for brightening damp borders, pond edges, or wildlife-friendly planting schemes. With tall, upright spikes of blush-pink flowers that appear from midsummer into early autumn, this hardy perennial offers long-lasting colour, excellent vertical interest, and strong appeal to pollinators. It’s easy to grow and well-suited to naturalistic or cottage-style gardens.
Botanical name: Lythrum salicaria ‘Blush’
Common name: Blush loosestrife
Plant type: Hardy herbaceous perennial
Height: 1m (3ft)
Spread: 0.6m (1.5 ft)
Flowering: Soft blush-pink flower spikes from Summer (July - August)
Pruning: Deadhead after flowering to prevent self-seeding
Elegant, upright habit perfect for the back or middle of borders
Particularly attractive to bees, butterflies and hoverflies
Thrives in moist or damp soils, especially near water
Hardy: Hardy in the UK down to temperatures of -20 degrees Celcius (RHS hardiness rating H7)
‘Blush’ is a clump-forming herbaceous perennial with tall, slender stems clothed in narrow, lance-shaped green leaves. In midsummer, the plant produces vertical spikes packed with soft, pale pink flowers, creating a graceful and airy display. The upright habit adds structure and movement, especially when planted in drifts or alongside ornamental grasses.
Position: Full sun to partial shade. Sunlight encourages the best flowering.
Soil: Moist, humus-rich soil is ideal. Performs best in consistently damp conditions, such as near ponds, in bog gardens, or heavy borders that retain moisture.
Potted: grown in pots can be planted at any time of the year providing the ground is not frozen or waterlogged
Planting Depth: Plant with the crown at soil level. Water thoroughly after planting.
Spacing: Space plants 45–60 cm apart to allow for natural spread and airflow.
Spring or early autumn planting allows time for roots to establish before temperature extremes.
Once established, Lythrum salicaria ‘Blush’ requires very little attention, provided soil moisture is maintained. It will tolerate short dry spells, but prolonged drought may reduce flowering.
Apply a mulch of compost in spring to help conserve moisture and suppress weeds. It may self-seed in favourable conditions, so deadheading is useful to limit spread.
Perfect for damp borders, wet meadows, or alongside ponds and streams
Ideal for wildlife gardens – highly attractive to pollinators
Blends well with ornamental grasses, Iris sibirica, Ligularia, and Filipendula
Soft flower colour complements other pastels and cool-toned perennials
Can be naturalised in wildflower or wetland areas
Lythrum salicaria ‘Blush’ is a graceful, low-maintenance perennial that brings elegance, height and pollinator-friendly blooms to moist areas of the garden. Its soft flower colour makes it a versatile partner in planting schemes, while its upright form ensures structure and long-lasting interest from mid to late summer. A rewarding choice for gardeners looking to enrich damp garden spots with natural charm.
Buying Perennials from Jacksons Nurseries
At Jacksons Nurseries we lightly trim back our perennials after flowering and trim them back at the end of the season to ensure that the plants remain neat and tidy whilst in the pot. The more tender the plant the less we cut back to help protect exposed stems from winter frost. Depending on the plant variety we will then prune back further in spring once the risk of the more severe frosts is over.
As a result, depending on the time of year you buy perennials, they may not look like images showing their ‘prime time’ in flower and looking at their best.
From late autumn onwards and dependent on variety, there may be very little visible above the soil except for a few cut back dormant leaves or stems. It is perfectly normal for dormant plants to look like this from autumn onwards, they will however burst back into life in spring.
Availability: Stock availability figures are provided as a guide only. There is a delay between orders being placed and the plants being gathered by our pulling team. During this time it may be possible for a member of the public to purchase these plants from our Garden Centre, while this is rare it is a possibility and we will notify you of any problems as soon as possible. This figure may also include plants that have not yet be flagged as unsaleable.
Pre-order: Pre-order times are given as a guide only and may vary dependent on the growing season. Orders containing Pre-ordered products will be shipped as a single order when all items become available. Large orders may be part shipped, please contact us on 01782 502741 or email sales@jacksonsnurseries.co.uk.
Perennials are described and classified differently by different gardeners but all would agree that they are plants that come into flower every year from early spring to late summer, the exact time dependent on variety and most die back to ground level in autumn and winter.
As for all plants, soil preparation is time well spent. Dig over the area to be planted ensuring that the ground is free draining. If not then you may wish to either consider planting in a different spot or raising the level of the planting area by adding additional topsoil, well rotted garden compost and/or well rotted manure. Add ‘Fish, Blood and Bone’ fertiliser or a high potash fertiliser to encourage good root growth and development.
It’s always a good idea to plant a few of the same plant together, we recommend planting in 3’s or 5’s to provide a bold effect but allowing them plenty of room to develop.
Always check eventual plant heights when planning borders to ensure that the taller plants are at the back (or at the centre of an island bed) followed by the medium and then smaller low growing plants.
Remember to deadhead perennials after flowering, trim back lightly in autumn as required to tidy the border and if necessary trim again in spring once the risk of heavy frost has passed.
If perennials get too big, start to flower less and less or if it seems to be dying off from the centre, consider dividing the plant but always check that the particular variety is happy to be divided and that you divide at the right time of year for the plant.
By using this simple guide and a little time, perennials can make an absolutely spectacular difference to your garden.
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