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*Lythrum salicaria Linnaeus. Purple Loosestrife. Phen: Jun-Sep. Hab: Swamps, marshes, other wet places. Dist: Native of Eurasia. An extremely noxious weed in the ne. United States, aggressively colonizing and coming to dominate a wide variety of freshwater wetlands, sometimes to the near exclusion of native vegetation.

Origin/Endemic status: Eurasia

Synonymy ⓘ: = Ar, C, FNA10, G, GrPl, Il, K1, K3, K4, Mi, NcTx, NE, NY, Pa, RAB, Tat, Tn, Va, W, WV, Graham (1975); > Lythrum salicaria L. var. gracilior Turcz. – F; > Lythrum salicaria L. var. salicaria – F; > Lythrum salicaria L. var. tomentosum (Mill.) DC. – F

Links to other floras: = Lythrum salicaria - FNA10

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Wetland Indicator Status:

  • Atlantic and Gulf Coastal Plain: OBL
  • Eastern Mountains and Piedmont: FACW
  • Great Plains: OBL
  • Midwest: OBL
  • Northcentral & Northeast: OBL

Heliophily ⓘ: 8

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image of plant© Bruce A. Sorrie | Original Image ⭷
image of plant© Erik Danielson source | Original Image ⭷
image of plant© Erik Danielson source | Original Image ⭷
image of plant© Erik Danielson source | Original Image ⭷
image of plant© Erik Danielson source | Original Image ⭷
image of plant© Keith Bradley | Original Image ⭷
image of plant© Erik Danielson source | Original Image ⭷
image of plant© Erik Danielson source | Original Image ⭷
image of plant© Erik Danielson source | Original Image ⭷
image of plant© Gary P. Fleming | Original Image ⭷
image of plant© Erik Danielson source | Original Image ⭷

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Horticultural Information

NCBG trait

Intro: Stiff, erect perennial of swamps, marshes and other wet places. Native of Eurasia.

Stems: Stems 4-angled, branched from base, usually downy, becoming woody with age and often persisting through winter.

Leaves: Leaves opposite or in whorls of 3, sessile, lance-shaped with nearly clasping base, 1-4 in. long, downy-hairy.

Inforescence:

Flowers: Flowers densely packed in a terminal spike to 18 in. long; pink-purple; consisting of a downy calyx tube, 6 (sometimes 5) oblong-lance-shaped petals, 8-12 stamens and a style.

Fruits: Fruit a cylindric, 2-sectioned, many-seeded capsule.

Comments: An extremely noxious weed, especially in the ne. United States.

Height: 4-10 ft.

plant sale text:

bloom table text:

description: Stiff, erect perennial of swamps, marshes and other wet places. Native of Eurasia.

stems: Stems 4-angled, branched from base, usually downy, becoming woody with age and often persisting through winter.

leaves: Leaves opposite or in whorls of 3, sessile, lance-shaped with nearly clasping base, 1-4 in. long, downy-hairy.

inflorescence:

flowers: Flowers densely packed in a terminal spike to 18 in. long; pink-purple; consisting of a downy calyx tube, 6 (sometimes 5) oblong-lance-shaped petals, 8-12 stamens and a style.

fruits: Fruit a cylindric, 2-sectioned, many-seeded capsule.

comments: An extremely noxious weed, especially in the ne. United States.

cultural notes:

germination code:

native range: