![]() Swamp loosestrife ( Decodon verticillatus) arches out from shorelines, has mostly whorled leaves and flowers in well-separated leaf axils. alatum) is found in moist prairies and wet meadows has winged, square stems, solitary flowers in separated leaf axils, paired lower leaves and alternate upper leaves. Similar species: Garden yellow loosestrife ( Lysimachia vulgaris) is a non-native, wetland garden escapee with yellow flowers. The root system consists of a very thick and hard taproot, and spreading lateral roots. A mature plant can develop into a large clump of stems up to five feet in diameter. Stems: Green, sometimes tinged purple, stiff, erect, and generally four-sided (older stems, five or six-sided). Purple loosestrife is an erect perennial herb that usually grows two to six feet tall. Roots: Large woody taproot and many side roots. Seeds are viable for at least seven years. Mature plants with many stems can produce two million seeds. A single stem can produce 100,000-300,000 seeds per year. Plants can bloom the first year after seeds germinate.įruits & seeds: Capsules start bursting open from the bottom of the inflorescence upwards from July through October, often while still flowering above. Blooms from the bottom of the flower spike to the top from late June to September. Usually opposite and rotated 90 degrees from those below but are sometimes whorled.įlowers: Closely attached to the stem with five to six pink-rose colored petals. salicaria is a robust herbaceous perennial with upright stems to 1.2m tall, clad in narrow, willowy leaves, and small vivid purplish-pink flowers 2cm wide in dense terminal spikes over a long period in summer. The following resources provide valuable information and tips.Leaves: Simple, lance-shaped and do not have petioles. If purple loosestrife is present on your property, consider removal and management options. Lancaster County Weed Control Authority: Purple Loosestrife – Credit: LNKTV City This fast-spreading plant outcompetes important native species, and its extensive root system constrains fine sediments and alters the water table in wetlands. Densely growing, it may degrade habitat for wetland-nesting birds, amphibians, and turtles. Native plants are vital to wetland wildlife for food and shelter. It has become a serious pest to native wetland communities where it out-competes native plants. Purple loosestrife grows on lake edges and in stream corridors, wetlands, and roadsides. Purple loosestrife, known for its beautiful purple flowers and landscape value, was brought to the United States from Europe in the 1800's. Purple-fringed orchid (Platanthera psycodes)Īdditional information on how to identify purple loosestrife can be found online.Purple loosestrife may be confused with several native plants that have purple flowers including: Purple loosestrife has a shrub-like appearance, stiff, four-sided stems ending in dense spikes of showy pinkish-purple flowers. Purple loosestrife typically grows 2-6 feet in height, although it can sometimes grow to be nine feet tall. It forms pairs of simple, smooth-edged leaves that attach to the stem which are opposite from one another. The stems of purple loosestrife are squared and typically have four distinct sides, though sometimes (rarely) the plant can have 5-6 sides. Each flower contains 5-7 petals on tall spikes. Purple loosestrife is a perennial plant that blooms from July to September and produces flowers which are magenta or purple in color. Dirt & Gravel Road Design and Implementation.Aquatic Connectivity and Species Passage.
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