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Native Plant Society of Texas

Winged Loosestrife

Lythrum alatum

Other common name(s):

Wing-angle Loosestrife, Winged Lythrum

Family:

Lythraceae (Loosestrife Family)

Plant Ecoregion Distribution Map

This map uses data from the US EPA. EPA  servers have been offline frequently so maps may not display. We are working on a solution.

Central Great Plains, Cross Timbers, East Central Texas Plains, Gulf Coast Prairies and Marshes, Texas Blackland Prairies, Western Gulf Coastal Plain
Broken Red Plains, Limestone Plains
Carbonate Cross Timbers, Eastern Cross Timbers, Grand Prairie, Limestone Cut Plain, Western Cross Timbers
Bastrop Lost Pines, Floodplains and Low Terraces2, Northern Post Oak Savanna, Northern Prairie Outliers, San Antonio Prairie, Southern Post Oak Savanna
Coastal Sand Plain, Floodplains and Low Terraces4, Laguna Madre Barrier Island and Coastal Marshes, Lower Rio Grande Alluvial Floodplain, Lower Rio Grande Valley, Mid-Coast Barrier Islands and Coastal Marshes, Northern Humid Gulf Coastal Prairies, Southern Subhumid Gulf Coastal Prairies, Texas-Louisiana Coastal Marshes
Floodplains and Low Terraces1, Northern Blackland Prairie, Southern Blackland Prairie
Flatwoods, Floodplains and Low Terraces3, Pleistocene Fluvial Terraces, Southern Tertiary Uplands

Plant Characteristics

Growth Form

Subshrub

Height

2
to
3
ft.

Spread

2
to
3
ft.

Leaf Retention

Deciduous

Lifespan

Perennial

Habitat and Care Requirements

Soil Type(s)

Clay, Loam, Moist, Poor Drainage, Sand

Light Requirement

Sun

Water Requirement

Medium

Native Habitat

Grassland, Riparian, Wetland

Bloom and Attraction

Bloom Color

Pink, Purple

Bloom Season

Spring, Summer

Seasonal Interest

Nectar, Pollen

Wildlife Benefit

Bees, Butterflies, Hummingbirds, Nectar Insects

Maintenance

Because Winged Loosestrife is naturally found in wet meadows, it is a good plant for the lower slopes of rain gardens or the dry fringe. Plant it with other late summer blooming natives. Not to be confused with the non-native Purple Loosestrife (Lythrum salicaria). Native habitat: fields, wet meadows, sandy soil in prairies, marshes, and low borders of lakes, ponds, streams, roadside ditches.

Description

Blooms May-September. Grows in a dense ball almost like a short shrub, with lance shaped leaves. Single pale, purple flowers bloom on short stalks that arise from leaf axils. Petals have a darker purple mid-vein and resemble the texture of wrinkled tissue paper. The fruit is a capsule containing tiny seeds.

References

Learn about how to propagate Texas native plants.

Material Treatment Method Collection References
Clump Division divide mature plants in early spring or fall. Ensure the new divisions have adequate moisture to establish roots. https://earthone.io/plant/lythrum%20alatum
Seed No Treatment Direct sow winged loosestrife seeds in late fall; since they need light to germinate, plant them on the surface of the soil.This purple loosestrife seed can also be started indoors 6-8 weeks before planting in the spring. After the flowers fade, a slender pod will develop. Since the tiny seeds easily blows away, shake the seed out of the pods as soon as they open. Store the winged loosestrife seed in a cool, dry place. 1) https://www.everwilde.com/store/Lythrum-alatum-WildFlower-Seed.html 2) https://www.picturethisai.com/care/propagate/Lythrum_alatum.html
Seed Stratification For spring planting, mix the Lythrum Alatum seeds with moist sand and store them in the refrigerator for 60 days before planting. Keep the soil lightly moist until germination. Plant the stratified seeds in early spring. Use a well-drained seed starting mix in pots or trays. Sprinkle the seeds lightly on the surface of the soil and barely cover them with a thin layer of soil or vermiculite. Place the pots or trays in a location that receives indirect light and maintains a consistent temperature. Keep the soil moist but not waterlogged. Germination should occur within 3-4 weeks. Once the seedlings have developed a couple of sets of true leaves and are sturdy enough, transplant them to individual pots or directly into the garden. Ensure the transplantation is done on a cloudy day or in the evening to reduce stress on the young plants. After the flowers fade, a slender pod will develop. Since the tiny seeds easily blows away, shake the seed out of the pods as soon as they open. Store the winged loosestrife seed in a cool, dry place. 1) https://www.everwilde.com/store/Lythrum-alatum-WildFlower-Seed.html 2) https://www.picturethisai.com/care/propagate/Lythrum_alatum.html

About the Region

2026 Fall Symposium Logo

This low-elevations region of Texas extends inland from the barrier islands, about 60 or so miles, and stretches from Brownsville to Louisiana. In total, it covers about 9.5 million acres, with a high point of 150 feet in elevation. More than 1000 species of plants can be found in this region. On the southern end, species more common in Mexico (such as Sabal mexicana) and Central America occur.

The barrier islands provide us with dune systems, and clay flats to the inland side, which have species found in these areas alone. Many plants here, such as Ipomoea pes-caprae (beach morning glory), can be found throughout tropical regions of the globe. I’ve encountered the same species on the beaches of Guam.

Once inland, vast marshes and wet prairies occur. Occasionally, oak (Quercus fusiformis) groves can be found. Common grasses include species of Bothriochloa, Paspalum, and Sporobolus; eastern gamagrass (Tripsacum dactyloides); and switchgrass (Panicum species). Many rivers and creeks cut through the Gulf Prairies, and along these riparian areas various species of trees, Sabal minor, and other plants adapted to clay soils can be found. Due to overgrazing, farming, and fire suppression, woody species such as mesquite (Prosopis glandulosa) and huisache (Acacia farnesiana), and invasive species such as chinaberry (Melia azedarach), Brazilian pepper (Schinus terebinthifolius), and Chinese tallow (Sapium sebiferum) have increased and displaced our native flora.

Source: Wildflowers of Texas by Michael Eason