What does the plant Lythrum look like?

What does the plant Lythrum look like?

Purple loosestrife, Lythrum salicaria, is a tall-growing wildflower that grows naturally on banks of streams and around ponds. It has strong, upright stems, topped in summer with long, poker-like heads of bright purple-red flowers. Its flowers are extremely attractive to bees and butterflies.

Is Lythrum an invasive plant?

Lythrum salicaria is a serious invader of many types of wetlands, including wet meadows, prairie potholes, river and stream banks, lake shores, tidal and nontidal marshes, and ditches. It can quickly form dense stands that completely dominate the area excluding native vegetation.

Where does Lythrum grow?

How to grow Lythrum ‘Robin’

1. Sun exposure: Dappled shade, full sun, partial shade.
2. Hardiness: Hardy.
3. Soil type: Boggy.

How do I know if I have purple loosestrife?

Purple Loosestrife may be distinguished from other species of Lythrum by its stems that end in dense, showy flower spikes. The lance-shaped leaves are up to 4 inches long, and mostly opposite or in whorls of 3 (which may appear alternately arranged). Some leaf bases are heart-shaped and may clasp the main stem.

Should I deadhead Lythrum?

Flowering spikes should be deadheaded immediately after bloom to prevent self-seeding. Plants may be sheared to the ground after flowering or if foliage becomes tattered from insect damage. If sheared in mid-summer, new foliage generally will appear in 2 weeks with a possible fall rebloom.

How does Lythrum salicaria spread?

Purple loosestrife spreads primarily by seeds. When flowers drop off, capsules containing many tiny seeds appear in their place. Each mature plant can produce up to 2.7 million seeds annually. As tiny as grains of sand, seeds are easily spread by water, wind, wildlife and humans.

Does Lythrum need full sun?

Requirements and care: Full sunlight or partial shade. Soil pH 5.0 to 7.0. Wet to moist soil. Deadhead to prevent seed set and to keep tidy.

Is purple loosestrife the same as fireweed?

Each plant can grow as tall as two meters. Loosestrife flowers in late June to late September. The flowers are pink-purple in color and are tightly clustered on a long spike. Don’t confuse purple loosestrife with look alikes such as fireweed with its round stem.

When should Lythrum be pruned?

Deadhead fading flowers to prevent self seeding, otherwise the plant may become invasive. Large clumps should be divided in early spring for propagation purposes and to avoid the overcrowding of roots. After the flowering period, all fading stems can be cut down.

Is purple loosestrife illegal?

Purple loosestrife was sold and planted for decades as a decorative ornamental plant. However, due to its negative impacts on native plants and its ability to escape from cultivation, purple loosestrife is illegal to sell in most states.