# purple loosestrife (*Lythrum salicaria*) Purple loosestrife is a tall, beautiful flower with bright purple spikes. It grows in wet areas and is loved by many butterflies and bees. - **Category:** [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/plant) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Snaps:** 12 - **Habitat:** Wetlands ![purple loosestrife](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/00_1804_Gew%C3%B6hnlicher_Blutweiderich_-_Lythrum.jpg&width=800) Photo: W. Bulach, CC BY-SA 4.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:00_1804_Gew%C3%B6hnlicher_Blutweiderich_-_Lythrum.jpg) ## Appearance The purple loosestrife has tall, stiff stems topped with striking, dense spikes of magenta-purple flowers. Each spike is crowded with many small, star-shaped blossoms, making it stand out brightly in wetland environments. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Plantae - **Phylum:** Tracheophyta - **Class:** Magnoliopsida - **Order:** Myrtales - **Family:** Lythraceae - **Genus:** Lythrum ## Interesting facts - Even small fragments of this plant can grow into a whole new plant! - Its dense growth can block waterways, harming fish and other aquatic life! - One single plant can produce over two million tiny seeds a year! - This plant arrived in North America in the 1800s, likely in ship ballast! ## Special abilities - **Seed Sprinter:** purple loosestrife can produce millions of tiny seeds that easily spread by wind and water to new locations. - **Wetland Conqueror:** purple loosestrife has strong roots that help it grow rapidly in waterlogged soils, outcompeting native plants. - **Regrowth Rocket:** purple loosestrife can regrow from small root or stem pieces, making it incredibly difficult to completely remove. ## Measurements & details - **Height:** 50-250 cm - **Spread:** 30-100 cm - **Flower Size:** 1-2 cm - **Bloom Season:** Summer-early fall - **Edible:** No - **Toxicity:** None - **Lifecycle:** Perennial - **Pollination Method:** Insect ## Ecological connections - **Pollinates:** European honey bee (*Apis mellifera*) — gathers nectar and pollen - **Eaten by:** Loosestrife beetle (*Galerucella calmariensis*) — larvae and adults consume its leaves - **Pollinates:** [Common Eastern Bumble Bee](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-eastern-bumble-bee) (*Bombus impatiens*) — visits flowers for nectar ## Traits - [Flowering](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/flowering): Flowering plants are any plants that produce flowers as part of their reproductive cycle. - [Biennial](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/biennial): Biennial plants complete their life cycle over two growing seasons, typically forming foliage in the first year and flowering/seeding in the second. - [Summer Blooming](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/summer-blooming): Summer blooming plants produce their flowers during the summer season, often providing vibrant color when many other plants have finished. - [Fragrant Flower](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/fragrant-flower): Fragrant flowers emit a pleasant aroma, often to attract pollinators or for defense. - [Colorful](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/colorful): Colorful describes organisms or objects displaying a wide range of bright and distinct colors. - [Pollinator Magnet](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/pollinator-magnet): Describes plants that are particularly attractive and beneficial to a wide range of pollinating organisms. - [Rapid Growing](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/rapid-growing): Rapid growing plants exhibit accelerated growth rates, quickly increasing in size and biomass within a short period. - [Wetland](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/wetland): This habitat trait identifies species found in wetlands, which are areas of land saturated with water, either permanently or seasonally, including marshes, swamps, and bogs. - [Invasive](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/invasive): Invasive species are non-native organisms that cause harm to the environment, economy, or human health. ## Collections - [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/plants) ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low Always look but don't touch plants without asking an adult first. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify purple loosestrife? Start with the whole plant, then compare leaf arrangement, leaf edges, stems and any flowers or fruit. Opposite leaves grow in pairs; alternate leaves come one at a time along the stem. These details tell you far more together than a single green leaf does. Plant Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How tall is purple loosestrife? 50-250 cm ### How wide does purple loosestrife spread? 30-100 cm ### How big are the flowers on purple loosestrife? 1-2 cm ### When does purple loosestrife bloom? Summer-early fall ### Is purple loosestrife edible? No ### Is purple loosestrife toxic? None ### What is purple loosestrife's lifecycle? Perennial ## Where to spot - [Abbott Farm Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/abbott-farm-historic-district) — New Jersey, US · Historic District - [Cedarmere-Clayton Estates](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/cedarmere-clayton-estates) — New York, US · Historic District - [Discovery Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/discovery-park) — Washington, US · Nature Reserve - [Harriman Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/harriman-historic-district) — New Jersey, US · Historic District - [Kenilworth Park & Aquatic Gardens](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/kenilworth-park-and-aquatic-gardens) — District of Columbia, US · Botanical Garden - [United States National Arboretum](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/united-states-national-arboretum) — District of Columbia, US · Botanical Garden [View all places to see purple loosestrife](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/purple-loosestrife) ## More Plants - [white snakeroot](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-snakeroot) (*Ageratina altissima*) - [tree-of-heaven](https://www.snappit.app/explore/tree-of-heaven) (*Ailanthus altissima*) - [western sword fern](https://www.snappit.app/explore/western-sword-fern) (*Polystichum munitum*) - [common milkweed](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-milkweed) (*Asclepias syriaca*) --- Source: [Purple Loosestrife: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/purple-loosestrife)