Lythrum salicaria

purple loosestrife - Imported from Europe more than a century ago, purple loosestrife now paints North American wetlands with its tall spikes of bright lavender or magenta flower heads, choking out nearly all native vegetation where it occurs and severely degrading wildlife habitat. No bird, mammal, or fish in North America is known to feed extensively on loosestrife. Each plant can produce up to two million seeds, which remain viable in the soil for many years. Once established, usually in disturbed sites in shallow fresh water, such as roadside ditches, the shores of streams, rivers, and lakes, and across wetlands, populations are very difficult to eradicate. Researchers are testing biological controls, involving predatory insects from the plant’s native range, in many states, including most of New England. [image: (c) New England Wild Flower Society]

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