Scientific Name:
Lythrum salicaria
Pronunciation:
LITH-rum sal-ih-KAIR-ee-uh
Common Name:
purple loosestrife
Family Name:
Lythraceae
Plant Type:
Herbaceous perennial, Invasive plant, Weed (horticultural)
Key ID Features:
Leaves sessile, most opposite (or less commonly in whorls of three), lanceolate, most 8-13cm long x 2-4cm wide, pubescent (downy); flowers ~2cm wide, 5 petals, pink-magenta, in dense terminal spikes (9-)15-35(-45)cm long, Jul-Sep; capsules 4mm long x 1.5mm wide.
Habit:
Upright
Form:
Oval - vertical
Texture:
Medium - fine
Mature Height:
1.3 - 2.0m
Mature Spread:
0.3 - 0.6m
Growth Rate:
Fast
Origin:
Central / west Asia, Europe, South Asia / India
Hardiness Rating:
Zone 4: (-34 to -29 °C)
Exposure:
Full sun, Part sun/part shade
Soil/Growing Medium:
Acidic, Bog, Humus rich
Water Use:
High
Landscape Uses:
Wetland - bogs
Additional Info:
Leaf Morphology:
Form:
Simple
Arrangement:
Opposite
Texture/Venation:
Soft flexible, Pinnate venation
Surfaces:
Pubescent
Colour in Summer:
Dark-green
Colour in Fall:
Dark-red
Shapes:
Lanceolate, Oblong
Apices:
Acuminate, Acute
Bases:
Rounded, Truncate
Margins:
Entire
Inflorescence Type:
Raceme, Floriferous
Flower Morphology:
Flowers perfect
Number Of Petals:
6
Corolla Shape:
Rotate/stellate
Ovary Position:
Superior
Colour (petals):
Showy, Purple, Pink, Magenta (Reddish-purple)
Flower Time at Peak:
Jul, Aug, Sep
Fruit Type:
Capsule
Fruit Colour:
Brown
Fruiting Time:
Aug, Sep, Oct
Bark or Stem Colour:
Tan, Brown
Additional Info:
Ridged stems
Organ Modifications:
Rhizomes, Creeping rootstock
Propagation:
Seed, Division - below ground parts
Maintenance:
High
Other:
Regionally noxious - remove plants before capsules mature
Pest Susceptibility:
Fungal leaf spot (Pest resistant, Disease resistant)
