Ah, your mama is the unfortunate owner of a true garden thug, altho it is beautiful. This is goosenecked loosestrife, which has an inborn desire to take over the world. I have it, planted it deliberately many years ago and have watched its proclivity for domination ever since.

I tried getting rid of it some years ago by digging and sifting the roots as thoroughly as I could. To no avail, really. It is back in all its glory. Unfortunately, it can and will send its runners into the lawn.

The possible good news for your mother is that it seems hers is located between the driveway and what looks to be a sidewalk of cement (?). In that case, the plant may be effectively stymied in its spread. Make sure to deadhead the blooms before they can spread viable seed and just enjoy this pretty & unusual flower form in the meantime!

You guys are awesome (and awesome writers!)

Thoroughly enjoyed your comments. I will let the "proud owner" know!

Cheers,

Dax

P.s. this is also loosestrife isn't it? I planted it here years ago.

Mine is between a sidewalk and my garage. My mother's is right up against her lawn that my Dad cherishes. ;-) She planted it last year she said. Thankya's, Dax.

Only planted gooseneck loosestrife in a mixed perennial bed once, but removed it within a year or two after noting its behaviour.

However, have been able to maintain yellow loosestrife (picture below: June 23, 2014) in a mixed perennial bed for over ten years. It is hemmed in a bit by several other tough perennials, but the main reason is me pulling some of it out every year after it's bloomed. The plant was positioned towards the front of the bed for easy access. Have tried to limit the spread by putting it it in largely sunken pot but it just ran over the rim.

For a tamer yellow loosestrife, the variegated-leaf 'Alexander' is less of a runner. Never heard of a tamer gooseneck loosestrife, but hemming it in with a wall, siding or a concrete path, as said above, sure keeps it in place!

Dax -- your mother might want to rethink keeping her goosenecked loostrife if it borders your dad's lawn!! Or did you mean she planted the yellow loosestrife only last year? I had that one at a former house and it was more well-behaved than the goosenecked. But, as sunnyborders said, it, too, can rampage (to a lesser degree as I recall). In either case, now might be a good time to thwart their world-domination attitude. Good luck!

Thank you both.

My Mom and Dad have the gooseneck at their home and I planted this yellow loosestrife at my home a minimum of 6 to 7-years ago. It's been very well behaved being that it's 2 ft. 18" wide.

I've warned her; even read your entire post over the phone to her Roxanna! She said she's not going to remove it. "She pulls weeds that later show up" meaning this one that's going to spread. I'll give her credit. She does pull weeds nearly every single day and she will manage it, but for how long she'll be able to I don't know. She's been politely warned.

:)

Dax

There may not be an issue given the apparent position between two hard surfaces.