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Photo by Steven Flint

Purple Loosestrife

COMMON NAME:

Purple loosestrife

SCIENTIFIC NAME:

Lythrum salicaria

ORIGIN:

Europe and Asia

DESCRIPTION:

Purple loosestrife is an erect, herbaceous perennial that grows 3-7 ft. tall. It is easily identified by its showy, magenta flowers from July to September. Linear-shaped leaves grow oppositely along square stems. This aggressive plant spreads both vegetatively and by abundant seed dispersal.

ECOLOGY
RESOURCES
DISTRIBUTION

HABITAT:

Purple loosestrife grows in a variety of wet habitats, including wet meadows, marshes, river banks and the edges of ponds and reservoirs. It tolerates a wide variety of moisture, nutrients and pH conditions.

THREAT:

Loosestrife invades both natural and disturbed wetlands and alters their ecological structures and functions.

MANAGEMENT:

Manual pulling of individual plants or small infestations can be effective. Selective herbicide treatments can be used for larger infestations, but there are also biological control options available that are effective in suppressing large infestations.

WNY PRISM PRIORITY:

Tier 4 - Local Control

Invasive Species Priorities - Tier Chart

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES:

Purple loosestrife is a prohibited species in New York State - for more information on Prohibited and Regulated Species, visit http://www.dec.ny.gov/animals/99141.html.

Native Alternatives

Foxglove beardtongue (Penstemon digitalis)

Summer phlox (Phlox paniculata)

Rough-leaved goldenrod (Solidago rugose)

NYS Prohibited and Regulated Species - Part 575:

PATHWAYS OF INVASION:

Purple loosestrife was introduced as an ornamental plant as well as through ship ballast. Purple loosestrife spreads through seeds and can produce new plants from stem and root fragments.

REGIONAL DISTRIBUTION:

Widespread

MAP (via iMapInvasives):

This map shows confirmed observations (green points) submitted to the NYS Invasive Species Database. Absence of data does not necessarily mean absence of the species at that site, but that it has not been reported there. For more information, please visit iMapInvasives.