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Purple Loosestrife

Lythrum salicaria

Other Common Names

None for this invasive

Plant Category

Aquatic, Perennial

Invasive Description

Originally from Europe, Purple Loosestrife leaves are usually arranged in pairs opposite each other on the stem, and rotated 90 degrees from the pair below, giving the stem a whorled appearance. A single plant is made up of multiple woody stems. Pinkish-lavender flowers appear on spikes at the top of stems. The plant blooms summer and into fall. It grows in dense patches, forming uniform stands. Mature plants develop extensive roots and can send out 30 to 50 shoots, creating a dense web. Pieces of the roots and stem fragments can also produce new plants.

Ecological Threat

Purple Loosestrife adapts readily to natural and disturbed wetlands. As it establishes and expands, it outcompetes and replaces native grasses, sedges, and other flowering plants that provide a higher quality source of nutrition for wildlife. The highly invasive nature of Purple Loosestrife allows it to form dense, homogeneous stands that restrict native wetland plant species, including some federally endangered orchids, and reduce habitat for waterfowl.  Loosestrife benefits few foraging animals.

Purple Loosestrife is on the Texas Dept. of Agriculture’s List of Noxious Plants and on Texas Parks and Wildlife’s list of Invasive, Prohibited and Exotic species which are illegal to sell, distribute or import into Texas.

How to Eradicate

For information on how to eradicate this invasive, view our statement on herbicide use and preferred alternatives for invasive plants.

Native Alternatives

You can replace this invasive plant with native alternatives. Here are some plants that make superior replacements.

Match your location on the Texas map to the color squares on the replacement plants below to find suitable replacements for your ecoregion.

Click for more details about the ecoregions