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Family
Lythraceae
Botanical Name
Lythrum salicaria
Plant Common Name
Purple Loosestrife
General Description
Purple loosestrife is a perennial native to Eurasia and naturalized in many of the temperate regions of the world. It has an upright habit with many angled or square, reddish-brown stems arising from the base forming a large, tall shrub. The leaves are medium to gray-green, lance-shaped, fuzzy and attached to the branch without a stem – sessile. Through out the summer and early fall the branches are topped with spikes of magenta to purple, many petaled flowers which are pollinated by insects including bees and butterflies. The fruit is a capsule filled with many fertile, dust-like seeds. Purple loosestrife has been grown as an ornamental and medicinal plant for many years. Recently, cultivars have been developed and advertised as sterile and non-invasive, however, research has indicated that many such cultivars produce highly fertile pollen and spread by underground roots.
Purple loosestrife is not picky about growing conditions but prefers moist, freshwater, wetland areas including ponds, bogs, lake edges river banks, ditches and marshes. It prefers full sun but will grow in considerable shade. Tolerant of most soil conditions, purple loosestrife will grow in acid to alkaline soils.
Purple loosestrife has escaped cultivation and is considered an invasive species in some locations particularly the northern and central areas of the United States. It easily forms monocultures from seeds and underground roots disrupting natural communities and displacing wildlife. Once established, it is very difficult to control. Purple loosestrife has been listed as a noxious weed by the United States Department of Agriculture, it possession, sale or transport is prohibited in many states. For more information about the invasive nature of purple loosestrife, see the factsheet from the National Park Service at http://www.nps.gov/plants/ALIEN/fact/lysa1.htm and United States Department of Agriculture site at http://plants.usda.gov/java/profile?symbol=LYSA2.
Characteristics
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AHS Heat Zone
9 - 1
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USDA Hardiness Zone
4 - 9
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Sunset Zone
1a, 1b, 2a, 2b, 3a, 3b, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
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Plant Type
Shrub
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Sun Exposure
Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial Shade
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Height
4'-10' / 1.2m - 3.0m
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Width
2'-4' / 0.6m - 1.2m
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Bloom Time
Early Summer, Summer, Late Summer, Early Fall
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Native To
Europe, Asia
Growing Conditions
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Soil pH
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
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Soil Drainage
Average
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Soil type
Clay, Loam, Sand
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Tolerances
Wet Site, Pollution
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Growth Rate
Fast
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Water Requirements
Average Water, Ample Water
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Habit
Thicket/Colonizing
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Seasonal Interest
Summer, Fall
Ornamental Features
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Flower Interest
Showy
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Flower Color
Pink, Magenta
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Fruit Color
Tan
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Foliage Color (Spring)
Green, Gray Green
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Foliage Color (Summer)
Green, Gray Green
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Foliage Color (Fall)
Green, Gray Green
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Bark Color
Red, Purple, Brown
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Fragrant Flowers
No
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Fragrant Fruit
No
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Fragrant Foliage
No
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Bark or Stem Fragrant
No
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Flower Petal Number
Single
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Repeat Bloomer
No
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Showy Fruit
No
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Edible Fruit
No
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Showy Foliage
No
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Foliage Texture
Medium
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Foliage Sheen
Matte
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Evergreen
No
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Showy Bark
No
Special Characteristics
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Usage
Container
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Sharp or Has Thorns
No
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Invasive
Yes
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Attracts
Butterflies
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Self-Sowing
Yes
