Purple Loosestrife (Lythrum salicaria): purple Minnesota wildflowers

Purple Loosestrife

Plant Info
Also known as:
Scientific name:	Lythrum salicaria
Family:	Loosestrife (Lythraceae)
Life cycle:	perenial
Origin:	Eurasia
Habitat:	sun; moist soil, along shores
Bloom season:	summer
Plant height:	2 to 6 feet
USDA PLANTS database:	Minnesota county distribution map
Spotted in Ramsey County at:	Long Lake Regional Park Rice Creek Trail Corridor Vadnais/Snail Lake Regional Park

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Flower:: 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 stamen and a yellow center that turns darker purple with maturity. The petals have pointed or slightly rounded tips, a dark vein down the middle, and a wrinkled texture reminiscent of crumpled tissue paper. One plant has numerous spikes.
Leaves and stem:: 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 stem. 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.
Notes:: Purple Loosestrife is on the prohibited noxious weed list for Minnesota. It is exceedingly aggressive and can overtake native plants very quickly. A single mature plant can produce well over a million seeds a year.