NATIVE
RANGE: Eurasia; throughout Great Britain, and across central and southern
Europe to central Russia, Japan, Manchuria China, southeast Asia and northern
India
Purple Loosestrife
Purple
loosestrife (Lythrum salicaria) is a perennial plant native to Europe. It was
brought to North America in the early 1800's by immigrants who valued its
striking purple flowers. Seeds were also unintentionally transported to the
shores of North America in the ballast water of ships. Since then, purple
loosestrife has expanded its range. Beekeepers have noticed a great
attraction to the Purple Loosestrife flower by their bees. From late July
to late August, bees collect nectar from these blooms and produce a rich
flavored dark honey.
NATIVE
RANGE: Eurasia; throughout Great Britain, and across central and southern
Europe to central Russia, Japan, Manchuria China, southeast Asia and northern
India
DESCRIPTION: Purple
loosestrife is an erect perennial herb in the loosestrife family, with a square,
woody stem and opposite or whorled leaves. Leaves are lance-shaped, stalkless,
and heart-shaped or rounded at the base. Plants are usually covered by a downy
pubescence. Loosestrife plants grow from four to ten feet high, depending upon
conditions, and produce a showy display of 
magenta-colored
flower spikes throughout much of the summer. Flowers have five to seven petals.
Mature plants can have from 30 to 50 stems arising from a single rootstock.
Wetland threat: Once purple loosestrife enters a wetland, it takes over. Common native wetland plants, such as cattails and sedges, cannot compete with purple loosestrife. Once these native plants are choked out, the wildlife that depends on them for food and shelter are also eliminated. Purple loosestrife has little value as food for animals, and populations of the plant become so thick that they cannot serve as cover for wildlife. Purple loosestrife also invades the shallow waters used for northern pike spawning, ruining these areas as spawning grounds.
Purple loosestrife reproduces prolifically -- one plant can produce several million seeds in a single summer. In addition, root or stem fragments can take root and form new plants. River water and floods are the primary ways that seeds and plant fragments are transported to new areas.
