Lythrum salicaria (Purple Loosetrife)

Spectacular when in full bloom, Purple Loosestrife (Lythrum salicaria) is a vigorous, upright perennial enjoying an extremely long bloom season from early to late summer. It features pink, purple, or magenta flowers in dense spikes, up to 18 in. long (45 cm) held atop lance-shaped leaves.

• Growing up to 2-4 feet tall (60-120 cm) and 24-28 in. wide (60-70 cm), Purple Loosestrife thrives in average, medium to wet soils in full sun to part shade.
• A welcomed addition to beds, and borders, this is an ideal candidate for bog gardens and along ponds and streams.
• The problem with this plant is that it is so invasive in North America that it can rapidly colonize wet areas. One mature plant can produce more than 2 million seeds annually. Seeds are easily dispersed by water and in mud adhered to aquatic wildlife, livestock, and people. Some cultivars have been marketed as being sterile such as ‘Morden Pink’, ‘Morden Gleam’ or ‘Dropmore Purple’ but there seems to be evidence that these cultivars can produce highly fertile seeds if grown with other cultivars or wild loosestrife.
• Find where this species is invasive in the United States.
• Discover beautiful U.S. native plant alternatives.
• Deadhead after flowering to prevent self-seeding. Plants may be sheared to the ground after blooming. If done in midsummer, new foliage will emerge in 2 weeks with a potential fall rebloom.
• Native to Europe and Asia.