
| Also known as: | |
|---|---|
| Genus: | Lythrum |
| Family: | Lythraceae (Loosestrife) |
| Life cycle: | perennial |
| Origin: | Eurasia |
| Status: |
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| Habitat: | sun; moist soil, along shores |
| Bloom season: | July - September |
| Plant height: | 2 to 6 feet |
| County distribution (click map to enlarge): | ![]() |
| Spotted in Ramsey County at: |
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Flowers are in a spike up to 20 inches long, densely packed with purple or pinkish-purple flowers. Individual flowers are ½ to ¾ inch across, have 5 to 7 petals (6 is most common), about 10 purple-tipped stamens. The petals have pointed or slightly rounded tips, a dark vein down the middle, and a wrinkled texture like crumpled tissue paper. The tubular calyx holding the flower is yellowish green, ridged, hairy, and has several long prong-like appendages at the tip end. One plant has numerous spikes.
Leaves are up to 4 inches long and 1 inch wide, toothless, gradually tapering to a pointed tip, with a rounded or heart-shaped base and no leaf stalk. Attachment is opposite, or may be in whorls of 3 or 4. The main stem is square and covered in downy hair. Established plants can have dozens of shoots and take on a bushy appearance.
The calyx becomes a receptable for the seed, and turns purplish as it ripens, then drying to brown. A single mature plant can produce well over a million seeds a year.
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Purple Loosestrife plant
a bushy Purple Loosestrife plant
more flowers
a small infestation of Purple Loosestrife
a larger infestation of Purple Loosestrife
infestation along a lake shore Photos by K. Chayka and Peter M. Dziuk taken at various locations in Ramsey County.
Have you seen this plant in Minnesota, or have any other comments about it?
There are colonies of them growing in the swampy areas in Southern Crow Wing and Northern Morrison Counties. They are beautiful. Too bad they are considered a noxious weed.
This plant is in my flower bed and I cannot rid myself of it. I have literally removed all wanted perrenials and taken out multitudes of feelers of this plant and it continues to return. What can I do????
I'm not an expert on this particular subject but the DNR does have a web page on this plant at their web site.
You can also contact your county Soil and Water Conservation District and see if they can give you some assistance. Please also see the links from my invasive species page. Good luck with it
on: 2010-05-21 10:32:36
This plant happens to be all over the mississippi downtown as well. Boom Island to St.Anthony falls. I try to pull it out when I can but the roots are quite stubborn.