You might remember that purple loosestrife (Lythrum salicaria) was all in the news 10 or more years ago. It seems that nurseries—correctly noting its pretty flower spikes, long bloom period, and low-care demeanor—were offering cultivars of this plant. Of an invasive weed, a pernicious threat to native wetlands!
For a while, various nurseries, including even the much-admired White Flower Farm of Litchfield, Connecticut sold some of the cultivars, ‘Morden Gleam’, ‘Morden Pink’, and, I think, ‘Morden Rose’. These were touted as “nearly sterile.” A fuss ensued, as “nearly sterile” is a bit like “sort-of pregnant.”
Up close, this aggressive weed is pretty. Photo by author.
While it turned out that the cultivars were not escaping into and engulfing wetlands, and were of mixed heritage (derived from related species), they were in any event shown to be well-capable of crossing with the wildflower. (The “Morden” of all those names is the Morden Research Station in Manitoba, Canada. Plant breeders there evidently had labored out of range of the rampant wildflower and were understandably enthused about such a pretty, variable, cold-tolerant perennial.)
Purple loosestrife then went on the “banned invasives” or “watch” lists of many states, including all of New England, and as far south as Tennessee, out to Minnesota, and as far west as Oregon. I don’t think you can buy it anywhere anymore.
Where the battle to eradicate it has been undertaken, a variety of tacks have been deployed. Small infestations can usually be ripped out of the ground, before the roots become too hefty and ideally also before the plants can go to seed. Herbicides (weed killers) such as Roundup and Garlon have been used, but these carry risks to nearby plants and/or to wetland creatures, so are not ideal. Importing and releasing hungry bugs (weevils and beetles) that keep this plant in check back in its native Europe and Asia have also been tried, with mixed success.
A meadow overtaken by "the purple haze"--few native plants can compete with it! Photo by author.
Even though it’s no longer in the headlines, I can’t help but feel a thudding dread late every summer and fall, when I see yet another wet ditch, marsh, roadside, or lakeside where this plant has gained a foothold—it marches on. Sure, it’s pretty, especially when growing en masse. And I understand that red-winged blackbirds prefer it to cattails, and goldfinches will nest in stands.
Purple loosestrife serves to remind me, once gain, that ecology is a complicated web.
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I live in Mass. and yes, we have loose strife everywhere. Invasive plants are no joke. I found a berry producing vine had started on my property…..maybe a type of honeysuckel (it’s roots are red) but I keep yanking it out from my rhody bed and where it’s gotten a hold on my porch, I keep whacking it back. My husband was puzzeled to find pieces of it lying on the basement floor. I told him they were drying out and would be used as kindling this winter because I couldn’t figure out anywhere to throw it away!!
I have three struggeling butterfly bushes and who would have thought that they were invasive since we pay about $30 or more per bush? But when in England I saw that they grow wild all along the tracks and roadsides!!
Im obliged for the blog article.Much thanks again. Cool.