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SEASONAL IDENTIFICATION
PURPLE LOOSESTRIFE (Lythrum salicaria)
SPRING
SUMMER
FALL
SPRING
-
SUMMER
SUMMER
FALL
-
WINTER
Seedlings grow with opposite leaf arrangements. The leaves
are lance shaped with a rounded tip when young.
Purple loosestrife flowers in summer and can be found
growing in wet areas and ditches. Showy purple flower
spikes at the ends of branches are easy to notice.
Leaves turn reddish purple as purple loosestrife prepares
to go dormant. Note the spreading root system. In the
following spring, new shoots will emerge from the perennial
root system.
Leaves directly attach to the distinctly square stems. The
lance-shaped leaves become pointed, growing longer as the
plant matures. Leaves may or may not have hairs.
The flowers grow densely on the vertical flowering spikes.
The flowers are small and have six pink to purple petals with
yellow pollen heads. The base of flowers may have short
soft hairs.
The aboveground portion of purple loosestrife dies back
in winter but may stay standing if undisturbed by snow
plowing. Tiny tear-drop-shaped seeds hang onto the plant
until disturbed. Most seeds fall around the parent plant.
