Native Plant Alternatives to Lythrum salicaria (Purple Loosetrife)

Lythrum salicaria, commonly known as purple loosestrife, is considered invasive in many parts of the world, including North America. Native to Europe and Asia, it was introduced to North America in the early 19th century, where it quickly spread across the continent.

Purple loosestrife is a perennial plant that can grow up to 4 feet (120 cm) tall, producing spikes of eye-catching purple flowers. While beautiful, this plant has the potential to be extremely aggressive. It tends to grow in wetland areas and along waterways, where it can out-compete native plants, altering habitats and ecosystems.

The plant’s invasiveness stems from its ability to produce a massive quantity of seeds (up to 2.7 million per plant per year) and to spread through its root system, creating dense thickets.

Purple Loosetrife is listed in the Invasive Plant Atlas of the United States.

According to the U.S Forest Service, Invasive species have contributed to the decline of 42% of U.S. endangered and threatened species and 18% of U.S. endangered or threatened species. Invasive species compete directly with native species for moisture, sunlight, nutrients, and space. They displace and alter native plant communities, degrade wildlife habitat and water quality, and potentially lead to increased soil erosion.

The federal government has estimated that nearly 25 percent of the 20,000 plant species native to North America are at risk of extinction, many of these through habitat loss. You can help reverse this trend by planting great native plants in your garden.

A plant is considered native if it occurs naturally in a particular region or ecosystem without human introduction. There are many benefits to growing native plants. First, these plants are better adapted to soils, moisture, and weather than exotic plants that evolved in other parts of the world. They need fewer fertilizers and pesticides or use less water. Second, they are unlikely to escape and become invasive, destroying natural habitats. Third, they support wildlife, providing shelter and food for native birds and insects, while exotic plants do not.