Authentic Wisconsin.  Purple Loosestrife - Lythrum salicaria


Purple Loosestrife along shore of Lake Wingra near Vilas Zoo on August 21, 2020.


Above: Purple Loosestrife along shore of Lake Wingra near Vilas Zoo. (8/21/20).


Purple Loosestrife - Lythrum salicaria - (Introduced - naturalized; ecologically invasive and nuisance weed)

Purple Loosestrife is designated as restricted, invasive plant. It prefers moist soils and shallow waters where it competes with native wetland plants. It will adjust to varying light conditions and water levels. Many areas of the state use safe biocontrol beetles that feed on the loosestrife to keep it in check and allow other plants to grow.

Purple Loosestrife flowers are reddish purple with six wrinkled petals that are in a spike-like cluster.

Purple Loosestrife blooms July-Sept.

Leaves of Purple Loosestrife stalk and leaves along shore of Lake Wingra in Wingra Park on August 21, 2020.


Above: Purple Loosestrife stalk and leaves along shore of Lake Wingra near Vilas Zoo in Madison, Wisconsin. (8/21/20).


Other Names: Spiked loosestrife, purple lythrum.

Lythrum: from Greek lythron meaning "blood."

For more information on the Purple Loosestrife, visit Wikipedia.

Or, visit the UW-Madison Wisconsin State Herbarium website page about Purple Loosestrife - Lythrum salicaria.

Or, visit the UW-Madison Wisconsin DNR website page about Purple Loosestrife - Lythrum salicaria.


Purple Loosestrife along shore of Lake Wingra near Vilas Zoo on August 21, 2020.
Purple Loosestrife along shore of Lake Wingra near Vilas Zoo on August 21, 2020.
Purple Loosestrife along shore of Lake Wingra near Vilas Zoo on August 21, 2020.
Purple Loosestrife along shore of Lake Wingra near Vilas Zoo on August 21, 2020.
Purple Loosestrife along shore of Lake Wingra near Vilas Zoo on August 21, 2020.
Purple Loosestrife along shore of Lake Wingra near Vilas Zoo on August 21, 2020.
Purple Loosestrife along shore of Lake Wingra near Vilas Zoo on August 21, 2020.
Purple Loosestrife along shore of Lake Wingra near Vilas Zoo on August 21, 2020.
Purple Loosestrife along shore of Lake Wingra near Vilas Zoo on August 21, 2020.
Purple Loosestrife along shore of Lake Wingra near Vilas Zoo on August 22, 2020.
Purple Loosestrife along shore of Lake Wingra near Vilas Zoo on August 22, 2020.
Purple Loosestrife along shore of Lake Wingra near Vilas Zoo on August 22, 2020.
Purple Loosestrife along shore of Lake Wingra near Vilas Zoo on August 22, 2020.
Purple Loosestrife along shore of Lake Wingra near Vilas Zoo on August 22, 2020.
Purple Loosestrife along shore of Lake Wingra near Vilas Zoo on August 22, 2020.
along Cannonball bike path on July 13, 2021.
along Cannonball bike path on July 13, 2021.
along Cannonball bike path on July 13, 2021.

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Wisconsin Wildflowers


Purple Loosestrife
Lythrum salicaria


along Cannonball bike path on July 13, 2021.

along Cannonball bike path on July 13, 2021.

Above: Purple Loosestrife along Cannonball bike path in Madison, Wisconsin. (7/12/21).


Purple Loosestrife along shore of Lake Wingra near Vilas Zoo on August 22, 2020.

Purple Loosestrife along shore of Lake Wingra near Vilas Zoo on August 22, 2020.

Above: Purple Loosestrife along shore of Lake Wingra near Vilas Zoo in Madison, Wisconsin. (8/22/20).


Purple Loosestrife specimen collected in ditch by the Department of Veterans Affairs on Kemp Street in Rheinlander  on August 16, 2009.

Above: Purple Loosestrife specimen collected in ditch by the Department of Veterans Affairs on Kemp Street in Rhinelander, Wisconsin (8/16/2009).


Purple Loosestrife botanical illustration.

Purple Loosestrife botanical illustration.

Purple Loosestrife botanical illustration.

Above: Purple Loosestrife botanical illustrations.


Purple Loosestrife.

Purple Loosestrife.

Purple Loosestrife.

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