Wetland Plants of Wisconsin

Lythrum salicaria L.
Purple loosestrife
Family:
Lythraceae
large population
isolated clump
single plant
inflorescence
flowers
leaf
stem and leaves
 

Purple loosestrife is an invasive species of sunny wetlands. As illustrated above, it can be very aggressive and it displaces native species. Once established the plants can persist for many years, eventually producing large clumps and producing numerous seeds to spread to other sites.

The bright rose-purple flowers are very conspicuous and are usually present from late June into fall in northern Wisconsin. Leaves are simple, entire (no teeth on the margin), and sessile (attached directly to the stem without a petiole).

 


known Wisconsin distribution

Acknowledgments

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