| purple loosestrife | USDA PLANTS Symbol: LYSA2 U.S. Nativity: Exotic Habit: Forbs/Herbs Aquatic |
| Lythrum salicaria L. |
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Taxonomic Rank: Magnoliopsida: Myrtales: Lythraceae |
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| Synonym(s): purple lythrum, rainbow weed, salicaire, spiked loosestrife | |
| Native Range: Europe (); Old World (BAIL) | |
Purple loosestrife is a tall, multi-stemmed (30-50 per plant), perennial forb that can grow up to 10 ft. (3 m) in height. The opposite or whorled leaves are dark-green, lance-shaped, sessile, 1.5-4 in. (3.8-10.2 cm) long and round or heart-shaped at the base. Flowering occurs in July to October, when pink to purplish flowers develop in 4-16 in. (10.2-40.6 cm) long spikes at the tops of the stems. Flowers have 5-7 petals and twice as many stamens as petals. Fruits are capsules that are enclosed in the hairy sepals. Purple loosestrife is a serious invader of many types of wetlands, including wet meadows, prairie potholes, river and stream banks, lake shores, tidal and non-tidal marshes, and ditches. It can quickly form dense stands that displace native vegetation. Purple loosestrife can spread very rapidly due to its prolific seed production; one plant can produce as many as 2 million seeds per year. Purple loosestrife is native to Europe and Asia. It was first introduced into North America in the early 1800s for ornamental and medicinal purposes. It has also been used as a nectar plant for bee-keeping. |
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Identification, Biology, Control and Management Resources
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| Selected Images from Invasive.org | View All Images at Invasive.org |
 Flower(s); Eric Coombs, Oregon Department of Agriculture, Bugwood.org Additional Resolutions & Image Usage |
 Flower(s); Norman E. Rees, USDA Agricultural Research Service - Retired, Bugwood.org Additional Resolutions & Image Usage |
 Infestation; Roadside infestation Britt Slattery, US Fish and Wildlife Service, Bugwood.org Additional Resolutions & Image Usage |
 Flower(s); Linda Wilson, University of Idaho, Bugwood.org Additional Resolutions & Image Usage |
 Fruit(s); fruit and seeds Gary L. Piper, Washington State University, Bugwood.org Additional Resolutions & Image Usage |
 Flower(s); John D. Byrd, Mississippi State University, Bugwood.org Additional Resolutions & Image Usage |
 Plant(s); in flower John D. Byrd, Mississippi State University, Bugwood.org Additional Resolutions & Image Usage |
 Infestation; Southeast Minnesota, September Linda Haugen, USDA Forest Service, Bugwood.org Additional Resolutions & Image Usage |
 Infestation; Steve Dewey, Utah State University, Bugwood.org Additional Resolutions & Image Usage |
 Foliage; Steve Dewey, Utah State University, Bugwood.org Additional Resolutions & Image Usage |
 Infestation; Steve Dewey, Utah State University, Bugwood.org Additional Resolutions & Image Usage |
 Infestation; Steve Dewey, Utah State University, Bugwood.org Additional Resolutions & Image Usage |
 Plant(s); Ornamental planting Steve Dewey, Utah State University, Bugwood.org Additional Resolutions & Image Usage |
 Plant(s); Steve Dewey, Utah State University, Bugwood.org Additional Resolutions & Image Usage |
 Plant(s); in flower David Cappaert, Michigan State University, Bugwood.org Additional Resolutions & Image Usage |
 Plant(s); Britton, N.L., and A. Brown. 1913. Illustrated flora of the northern states and Canada. Vol. 2: 581. USDA PLANTS Database, USDA NRCS PLANTS Database, Bugwood.org Additional Resolutions & Image Usage |
 Plant(s); USDA NRCS. Wetland flora: Field office illustrated guide to plant species. USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service. USDA PLANTS Database, USDA NRCS PLANTS Database, Bugwood.org Additional Resolutions & Image Usage |
| EDDMapS Distribution: This map is incomplete and is based only on current site and county level reports made by experts and records obtained from USDA Plants Database. For more information, visit www.eddmaps.org Alternative content
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 State(s) Where Reported invasive. Based on state level agency and organization lists of invasive plants from WeedUS database. Alternative content
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