purple loosestrife (Lythrum salicaria)
ODA rating: B
Other common names
purple lythrum
Description
Perennial; blooms midsummer. Grows up to 7 ft tall. Upright bushy plant. Flowers pink to purple, possessing 5-6 petals and numerous on a long spike. Spreads by seed and spreading rhizomes that form dense, woody mats.
Impacts
Its showy purple flowers crown a vigorous plant that crowds out marsh vegetation required by wildlife for food and shelter. Decreased waterfowl and songbird production has been well documented in heavily infested marshes. This former ornamental species can be found along wetlands, stream banks, and shorelines of shallow ponds.
Click on image to view larger photo.
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Image courtesy of Bonnie Rasmussen, Oregon Dept. of Agriculture
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Image courtesy of Eric Coombs, Oregon Dept. of Agriculture
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Image courtesy of Bonnie Rasmussen, Oregon Dept. of Agriculture
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If images are downloaded and used from the ODA web site please be sure to credit the photographer.
Introduction
Eurasian in origin, this aquatic invasive has become established in the U.S.
Distribution in Oregon
Map legend
Yellow: limited distribution
Red: abundant
Grey: not known to be present
Biological controls
Four biocontrol agents, two leaf beetles, a root weevil and a seed weevil, are approved for release and are established in Oregon.
Galerucella calmariensis
Galerucella pusilla
Hylobius transversovittatus
Nanophyes marmoratus
Informational Links
WeedMapper
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