Purple loosestrife (Lythrum salicaria) naturalized in Pennsylvania. Lythrum salicaria is native to Europe, temperate Asia and northwest Africa. It is also naturalized in many temperate parts of the world, including parts of southern Africa, North America, and South America.

Native to Eurasia, purple loosestrife (Lythrum salicaria) now occurs in almost every state of the US. It was introduced to the east coast in the early 1800s, possibly as seeds in ship’s ballast or as an ornamental.

Purple loosestrife is a wetland plant with showy purple flowers arranged on flower spikes. Leaves are lance-shaped with smooth edges and grow up to four inches long. They are usually arranged in pairs opposite each other on the stem, and rotated 90 degrees from the pair below.

Spread, Impact, and Control of Purple Loosestrife (Lythrum salicaria) in North American Wetlands

Learn how to identify purple loosestrife and avoid accidentally spreading this invasive plant through recreational activities and gardening. The best time to remove purple loosestrife from your garden is in June, July, and early August, when it is in flower. Small areas can be dug by hand.

Purple loosestrife (Lythrum salicaria) is usually found in wetlands, marshes, river and stream sides, roadside ditches, culverts, and lake and pond shores.However, loosestrife can also grow in drier soils such as those of meadows, pastureland, and home gardens. In Vermont, purple loosestrife has the highest densities in Essex county but can also be found in Chittenden, …

Jul 14, 2021 · PURPLE LOOSESTRIFE is an herbaceous perennial plant characterized by a four-sided stem and long terminal spikes, each of which are surrounded by dense clusters of pink to magenta flowers. Each flower has 5 to 7 narrow, wrinkled petals.

Purple loosestrife adapts readily to natural and disturbed wetlands. As it establishes and expands, it outcompetes and replaces native grasses, sedges, and other flowering plants that provide a higher quality source of cover, food, or nesting sites for native wetland animals (U.S.EPA 2008).

Introduced into North America in the 19th century, purple-loosestrife is now an invasive weed, forming impenetrable stands that are unsuitable as cover for native animals and shade out native plants. Found between water and land, reedbeds are transitional habitats. They can form extensive swamps in lowland floodplains or fringe…

Purple loosestrife is a prohibited invasive species. Purple loosetrife is on the Control noxious weed list meaning you must prevent the spread of this plant. Purple loosestrife can invade many wetland types including wet meadows, stream banks, pond or lake edges and ditches.