Purple Loosestrife
Purple Loosestrife

Description
Purple loosestrife is a wetland plant, growing in freshwater wet meadows, marshes, river and stream banks, pond edges, reservoirs, and ditches. It prefers moist soils but can tolerate a wide range of conditions. It can withstand shallow flooding, and tolerates up to 50% shade. It flowers from July until September or October. A mature plant produces about 2,700,000 seeds a year.
How It Spreads
Purple loosestrife was likely brought to North America in the 1800s both intentionally, as an ornamental plant, and unintentionally, by ships dumping ballast or European raw sheep wool that contained seeds. Humans have continued to transport it throughout the U.S. as a landscaping plant and as a food source for bees due to its nectar-producing capabilities. Purple loosestrife spreads naturally through either vegetative spread or through seed dispersal. Additionally, animals and humans can be a vector of transport when seeds stuck in mud are attached to bodies, equipment, or vehicles.
Impacts to Rivers
Factsheets
River Alliance of Wisconsin Factsheet (Lower Wisconsin River Basin AIS Strategic Plan)