People transported Purple Loosestrife here from Europe and Asia. People used it for the bees to get good honey, or to plant in their garden. Because of this it spread all over the place, and it is a threat to the wetlands.
What is the problem?
The plant would take over any wetland it
could. The Purple Loosestrife blocks the sunlight from the vegetation.
It kills it so it can spread even more. Even if you cut it, the Purple
Loosestrife will grow back, but this time it will have more flowers and
stems.
What does it look like?
The Purple Loosestrife is a very pretty
weed.
It is 3-7 feet tall. The purple spiky flowers are closely attached
to the stiff stem. The leaves have an opposite arrangement and may
appear hairy.
How do you get rid of it?
If you ever see the Purple Loosestrife you should pull it out and make sure all of the roots are gone. For gardeners here are some other plants that are nice: Gayfeather, Obedient Plant, Joe-Pye Weed, Marsh Milkweed, Blue Vervain, Fireweed, Lupine, Ironweed, Bergamot, Great Blue Phlox, Beardstongue, and Blazing Star.
