purple loosestrife
(Lythrum salicaria)
This species is Introduced in the United States
Native Range
Europe, Asia, northern Africa
Appearance
Purple loosestrife is an herbaceous, erect long-lived perennial typically growing numerous stems 2½–8 ft (¾–2½ m) tall from a spreading, woody root. Stems are squarish in cross-section with 4–6 sides. Leaves have smooth margins and are lance-shaped, stalk-less, and 2–5 in (5–12 cm) long. Flowers are less than 1 in (2½ cm) across with 5–7 pink to purple (sometimes crumpled-looking) petals. Flowers occur in spiked clusters from early summer to early fall. Each flower can produce well over 100 small, light-colored seeds.
Impact
Large and dense populations of purple loosestrife displace native plant species, harm waterfowl nesting habitat, have negative impacts on some amphibians and algal communities, reduce water flow and quality, and degrade hunting and fishing areas.
Reference
Blossey, B. 2023. Purple Loosestrife (Lythrum salicaria): History and Ecology in North America. In: R.L. Winston, Ed. Biological Control of Weeds in North America. North American Invasive Species Management Association, Milwaukee, WI. NAISMA-BCW-2023-28-PURPLE LOOSESTRIFE-P. https://bugwoodcloud.org/resource/files/27700.pdf
Resources
- Best Management Practices - Ontarios Invading Species Awareness Program
- Biological Control of Invasive Plants in the Eastern United States - USDA Forest Service
- Southeast Exotic Pest Plant Council Invasive Plant Manual - SE-EPPC
- Biology and Biological Control of Purple Loosestrife - USDA Forest Service
- Weeds Gone Wild: Alien Plant Invaders of Natural Areas - Plant Conservation Alliance
- Element Stewardship Abstract - The Nature Conservancy
- Weed of the Week - USDA Forest Service
- Global Invasive Species Database - Invasive Species Specialist Group
- Plant Invaders of Mid-Atlantic Natural Areas - National Park Service and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
- Best Management Practices - Ontarios Invading Species Awareness Program
Selected Images
Maps
EDDMapS Distribution - This map is incomplete and is based only on current site and county level reports made by experts, herbaria, and literature. For more information, visit www.eddmaps.org
State Lists - This map identifies those states that have this species on their invasive species list or law.
Invasive Listing Sources
- Alabama Invasive Plant Council
- Alabama Noxious Weeds - Class B Noxious Weed
- Alaska Noxious Weeds
- Alberta Fisheries Act
- Alberta Weed Control Act
- Arizona Noxious Weeds
- California Invasive Plant Council
- California Noxious Weeds
- City of Ann Arbor Michigan Parks and Recreation
- Colorado Noxious Weeds
- Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, 1994.
- Connecticut Invasive Plant List
- Connecticut Invasive Plant Working Group
- Delaware Invasive Species Council
- Delaware Invasive Species Council Invasive Species List
- Florida Noxious Weeds
- 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.
- Idaho Noxious Weeds
- Illinois Exotic Weed Act
- Indiana Invasive Species Council - Invasive Plant List
- Invasive Plant Association of Wisconsin
- Invasive Plant Species of West Virginia
- Invasive Species of Concern in Georgia
- Iowa Forest Invasive Plants
- 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.
- Kentucky Exotic Pest Plant Council - Severe Threat
- Maine Invasive Plants
- Maryland Aquatic Nuisance Species Plan
- 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 Agriculture's Candidates for Listing of Invasive Plants
- Maryland Department of Natural Resources Policy: Restriction on Planting Exotic Invasive Plants
- Maryland Invasive Species Council - Invasive Species of Concern in Maryland
- Massachusetts Invasive Plants Advisory Group List
- Massachusetts Noxious Weeds
- Massachusetts Prohibited Plant List
- Michigan’s Prohibited and Restricted Species
- Mid-Atlantic Field Guide to Aquatic Invasive Species
- Minnesota DNR invasive species list
- Minnesota Noxious Weeds
- Missouri Noxious Weeds
- Missouri SRISP Species List
- Montana Noxious Weeds
- National Park Service, Mid-Atlantic Exotic Plant Management Team Invasive Plant List
- Native Plant Society of Oregon, 2008
- Nebraska Noxious Weeds
- Nevada EDRR
- Nevada Noxious Weeds
- 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 Hampshire Prohibited Aquatic Species
- New Jersey Invasive Species Management Act
- New Jersey Invasive Species Strike Team 2017 Invasive Species List
- New Mexico Noxious Weeds
- New York Regulated and Prohibited Invasive Species - Prohibited
- Non-Native Invasive Plants of Arlington County, Virginia
- Non-Native Invasive Plants of the City of Alexandria, Virginia
- Nonnative Invasive Species in Southern Forest and Grassland Ecosystems
- North Dakota Noxious Weeds
- Ohio Invasive Species Council
- Ohio Noxious Weeds
- Ontario’s Invading Species Awareness Program Tracked Species List
- Oregon Noxious Weeds
- Pacific Northwest Exotic Pest Plant Council, 1998
- Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources Invasive Plants
- Pennsylvania Noxious Weeds
- Pennsylvania Regulations for Controlled Plants and Noxious Weeds
- Pennsylvania's Field Guide to Aquatic Invasive Species
- Plant Invaders of Mid-Atlantic Natural Areas
- Rhode Island Natural History Survey
- South Carolina Illegal Aquatic Plants
- South Carolina Invasive Pest Council
- South Carolina Plant Pest List
- South Dakota Noxious Weeds
- Tennessee Exotic Pest Plant Council
- Tennessee Noxious Weeds
- Texas Noxious Weeds
- Utah Noxious Weeds - Control
- Vermont Noxious Weeds
- Virginia Invasive Plant Species List
- Virginia Invasive Species Management Plan 2012
- Virginia Noxious Weeds
- Virginia Regulations for Enforcement of Noxious Weeds Law
- Washington Noxious Weeds
- WeedUS - Database of Plants Invading Natural Areas in the United States
- West Virginia Department of Agriculture Regulations Governing the Distribution of Plant Materials
- West Virginia Invasive Species Strategic Plan and Volunteer Guidelines 2014
- West Virginia Native Plant Society, Flora West Virginia Project, and West Virginia Curatorial Database System, September 3, 1999
- West Virginia Noxious Weeds
- Wisconsin Noxious Weeds
- Wisconsin's Invasive species rule – NR 40
- Wyoming Noxious Weeds
Taxonomic Rank
| Domain: Eukarya |
| Kingdom: Plantae |
| Phylum: Magnoliophyta |
| Class: Magnoliopsida |
| Superorder: Rosanae |
| Order: Myrtales |
| Family: Lythraceae |
| Genus: Lythrum |
| Lythrum salicaria |
Other System Links
Plants: LYSA2
Bayer: LYTSA
GRIN: 23022
ITIS: 27079
NPDN Pest: PCYAEBB
NPDN Host: 31163
References
Common Name Reference: USDA, NRCS. 2010. The PLANTS Database. National Plant Data Center, Baton Rouge, LA, USA.
Scientific Name Reference: USDA, NRCS. 2010. The PLANTS Database. National Plant Data Center, Baton Rouge, LA, USA.