| purple loosestrife |
USDA PLANTS Symbol: LYSA2 USDA ARS GRIN: 23022 ITIS: 27079 NAPIS: PCYAEBB |
| 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 | |
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
- Global Invasive Species Database - Invasive Species Specialist Group
- Weed of the Week - USDA Forest Service
- Invasive Plant Atlas of New England - University of Connecticut
- Element Stewardship Abstract - The Nature Conservancy
- Biology and Biological Control of Purple Loosestrife - USDA Forest Service
- Weeds Gone Wild: Alien Plant Invaders of Natural Areas - Plant Conservation Alliance
- Southeast Exotic Pest Plant Council Invasive Plant Manual - SE-EPPC
- Biological Control of Invasive Plants in the Eastern United States - USDA Forest Service
- Plant Invaders of Mid-Atlantic Natural Areas - National Park Service and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
- Fact Sheet - Pennsylvania Dept. of Conservation and Natural Resources
| Selected Images from Invasive.org | View All Images at Invasive.org |
 Flower(s); Linda Wilson, University of Idaho, Bugwood.org Additional Resolutions & Image Usage |
 Flower(s); Eric Coombs, Oregon Department of Agriculture, Bugwood.org Additional Resolutions & Image Usage |
 Flower(s); Norman E. Rees, USDA Agricultural Research Service, Bugwood.org Additional Resolutions & Image Usage |
 Plant(s); in flower David Cappaert, Michigan State University, Bugwood.org Additional Resolutions & Image Usage |
 Flower(s); John D. Byrd, Mississippi State University, Bugwood.org Additional Resolutions & Image Usage |
 Foliage; Steve Dewey, Utah State University, Bugwood.org Additional Resolutions & Image Usage |
 Fruit(s); fruit and seeds Gary L. Piper, Washington 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; Roadside infestation Britt Slattery, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Bugwood.org Additional Resolutions & Image Usage |
 Plant(s); Steve Dewey, Utah State University, Bugwood.org Additional Resolutions & Image Usage |
 Infestation; Steve Dewey, Utah 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 |
 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 |
 Diagram or Graphic; 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 |
 Diagram or Graphic; 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 |
Taxonomic References:
- USDA, NRCS. 2001. The PLANTS Database, Version 3.1, National Plant Data Center, Baton Rouge, LA 70874-4490 USA.
Invasive Listing Sources:
- City of Ann Arbor Michigan Parks and Recreation
- Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, 1994.
- Connecticut Invasive Plant Working Group
- Delaware Natural Resources and Environmental Control, 2004
- Faith Campbell, 1998. Plants that Hog the Garden: Invasive Plants in the United States. Fine Gardening Online
- Hoffman, R. & K. Kearns, Eds. 1997. Wisconsin manual of control recommendations for ecologically invasive plants. Wisconsin Dept. Natural Resources, Bureau of Endangered Resources. Madison, Wisconsin. 102pp.
- Indiana Native Plant and Wildflower Society
- Invasive Plant Council of New York State
- Jil M. Swearingen, Survey of invasive plants occurring on National Park Service lands, 2000-2007
- John Randall, The Nature Conservancy, Survey of TNC Preserves, 1995.
- Maryland Cooperative Extension Service. 2003. Invasive Plant Control in Maryland. Home and Garden Information Center, Home and Garden Mimeo HG88. 4 pp.
- Maryland Department of Natural Resources, 1994
- Mid-Atlantic Exotic Pest Plant Council, 2005
- Missouri Department of Conservation,
- National Wildlife Refuge Association, Silent Invasion: A Call to Action from the National Wildlife Refuge Association, 2002. Washington DC. 17 pp.
- Native Plant Society of Oregon, 2002
- New Hampshire Invasive Species Committee. 2005. Guide to Invasive Upland Plant Species in New Hampshire. New Hampshire Department of Agriculture, Markets and Food Plant Industry Division and New Hampshire Invasive Species Committee.
- New Jersey Department of Agriculture, Division of Plant Industry, 2004
- Nonnative Invasive Species in Southern Forest and Grassland Ecosystems
- North Carolina Division of Parks and Recreation, Department of Environment and Natural Resources, 1998
- Pacific Northwest Exotic Pest Plant Council, 1998
- Rhode Island Natural History Society,
- Tatyana Livschultz, Pennsylvania survey of invasive plants,
- Vermont Department of Environmental Conservation,
- Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation, 1999.
- WeedUS - Database of Plants Invading Natural Areas in the United States
- Alaska Noxious Weeds
- Alabama Invasive Plant Council
- Alabama Noxious Weeds Class B Noxious Weed
- Arkansas Noxious Weeds Noxious/Prohibited
- Arizona Noxious Weeds
- California Invasive Plant Council
- California Noxious Weeds
- Colorado Noxious Weeds
- Connecticut Noxious Weeds
- Iowa Noxious Weeds
- Idaho Noxious Weeds
- Indiana Noxious Weeds
- Kentucky Exotic Pest Plant Council Severe Threat
- Massachusetts Noxious Weeds
- Michigan Noxious Weeds
- Minnesota Noxious Weeds
- Missouri Noxious Weeds
- Montana Noxious Weeds
- North Dakota Noxious Weeds
- Nebraska Noxious Weeds
- New Mexico Noxious Weeds
- Nevada Noxious Weeds
- Ohio Noxious Weeds
- Oregon Noxious Weeds
- Pennsylvania Noxious Weeds
- South Carolina Exotic Pest Plant Council Watch B
- South Carolina Noxious Weeds
- South Dakota Noxious Weeds
- Tennessee Exotic Pest Plant Council Severe Threat
- Tennessee Noxious Weeds
- Texas Noxious Weeds
- Utah Noxious Weeds
- Virginia Noxious Weeds
- Vermont Noxious Weeds
- Washington Noxious Weeds
- Wisconsin Noxious Weeds
- Wyoming Noxious Weeds
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