Identification
This naturalized perennial was introduced from Europe as a garden plant. This showy plant grows up to 5 feet tall. Stalkless, lance-shaped leaves with smooth margins are opposite or sometimes in whorls of 3 (A). The large purple flowers are on multiple dense spikes up to 12 inches long (A). Individual pink or magenta flowers have 5-7 (usually 6) wrinkly petals with a dark purple central stripe (B).
Grows near water, flowering from July to September. In the past 25 years isolated plants or groups have popped up occasionally in wet areas adjacent to the Missouri River or on the floodplain at Fontenelle Forest and Neale Woods where they have been destroyed as soon as they were discovered.
This is a very aggressive plant and is classified as a noxious weed in Nebraska, meaning it is illegal to cultivate it and every effort to eradicate it should be made to control it when discovered. It crowds out native species in wetlands and is most difficult to eradicate once established. If you see, or suspect the plant you see, might be Purple Loosestrife please report it to the folks at the admissions desk or contact Fontenelle Forest by calling or texting 402-731-3140.
The content of NatureSearch is provided by dedicated volunteer Naturalists of Fontenelle Forest who strive to provide the most accurate information available. Contributors of the images retain their copyrights. The point of contact for this page is: Roland Barth.