Purple Loosestrife
Lythrum salicaria
- Native to:
- Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Australia, Austria, Baltic States, Belarus, Belgium, Bulgaria, China, Corse, Czechia-Slovakia, Denmark, Ethiopia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, India, Iran, Iraq, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Kazakhstan, Kirgizstan, Korea, Krym, Kuril Is., Lebanon-Syria, Morocco, Netherlands, North Caucasus, Norway, NW. Balkan Pen., Pakistan, Palestine, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russia, Sardegna, Sicilia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Tadzhikistan, Transcaucasus, Tunisia, Türkiye, Türkiye-in-Europe, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, Uzbekistan
Ivar Leidus
Taxonomy
- Division:
- Magnoliophyta | - Flowering plants
- Family:
- Lythraceae
- Genus:
- Lythrum
- Species:
- Lythrum salicaria
- USDA Symbol:
- LYSA2
Growth Characteristics
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Growth Habit:
- Forb/herb , Subshrub
- Height:
- 150 cm
- Light Requirements:
- Full Sun
- Drought Tolerance:
- Low
- Bloom Months:
- jun,jul,aug,sep
- Bloom Colors:
- purple, pink, magenta
Wildlife Benefits
- Bees:
- ★☆☆☆☆ Documented bee visitation (GBIF)
- Butterflies & Moths:
- ★☆☆☆☆ Documented Lepidoptera association (GBIF)
- Caterpillars:
- ★★☆☆☆ Recorded caterpillar host plant (HOSTS Database)
Host Plant for Caterpillars
Cecropia moth (Hyalophora cecropia), Columbia silk moth (Hyalophora columbia), Honeydew moth (Cryptoblabes gnidiella), Imperial Moth (Eacles imperialis), Io moth (Automeris io), Lebeau's silk moth (Rothschildia lebeau), Luna moth (Actias luna), Nevada buckmoth (Hemileuca nevadensis-complex), Polyphemus moth (Antheraea polyphemus), Promethea silkmoth (Callosamia promethea), Regal Moth (Citheronia regalis), Tulip-tree Silkmoth (Callosamia angulifera)
Reported Fauna Sightings
Bees: American bumble bee (Bombus pensylvanicus), Black and (Bombus auricomus), Bombus Latreille, Central bumble bee (Bombus centralis), Common eastern (Bombus impatiens), Eastern Carpenter Bee (Xylocopa virginica), Hunt's bumble bee (Bombus huntii), Morrison bumble bee (Bombus morrisoni), Pyrobombus Dalla, Southern plains bumble bee (Bombus fraternus), Tri-colored bumble (Bombus ternarius), Two-form bumble bee (Bombus bifarius), Two-spotted bumble (Bombus bimaculatus), ⚠️Western honey bee (Apis mellifera), Yellow bumble bee (Bombus fervidus), Yellow-banded bumble (Bombus terricola), Yellow-faced bumble bee (Bombus vosnesenskii) Moths:Carrot Seed Moth (Sitochroa palealis), Hummingbird Clearwing (Hemaris thysbe), Pearl Crescent (Eudryas unio), Smeared Dagger Moth (Acronicta oblinita) Butterflies:Atalopedes Scudder, Black Swallowtail (Papilio polyxenes), Broad-winged Skipper (Poanes viator), Clouded Sulphur (Colias philodice), Common Buckeye (Junonia coenia), Common Wood-Nymph (Cercyonis pegala), Eastern Tailed-Blue (Cupido comyntas), Eastern Tiger Swallowtail (Papilio glaucus), Gray Hairstreak (Strymon melinus), Least Skipper (Ancyloxypha numitor), Orange Sulphur (Colias eurytheme), Peck's Skipper (Polites coras), Silver-spotted Skipper (Epargyreus clarus), Viceroy (Limenitis archippus), Wild Indigo Duskywing (Erynnis baptisiae), Zabulon Skipper (Lon zabulon)
Garden & Ecology Notes
- Wildlife Value:
- bees, butterflies
- Deer Resistant:
- Yes
Soil Requirements
- Soil Type:
- moist, fertile, silty or clay soil
- pH:
- 5.5 - 7.0 (slightly acidic to neutral)
- Drainage:
- tolerates poor drainage
- Moisture:
- consistently moist
- Notes:
- Common in wetlands, marshes, and riverbanks
Propagation & Germination
- Stratification:
- None required
- Germination Time:
- 14–28 days
- Notes:
- Seeds require light for germination; surface sow and keep moist.
The above propagation data sourced from Claude AI