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Lythrum salicaria (Purple loosestrife)
1 hour care
per year
per year
1.2m
Max height
Max height
0.5m
Max spread
Max spread
2-5 years
To maturity
To maturity
Plant details
Botanical name
Lythrum salicaria
Other names
Purple loosestrife, Black blood, Long purples, Purple grass, Rainbow weed, Red Sally, Rose loosestrife, Rosy strip, Sage willow, Soldiers, Spiked loosestrife, Willow weed
Genus
Lythrum Lythrum
Species
L. salicaria - L. salicaria is a vigorous, clump-forming, deciduous perennial with erect, branched stems bearing downy, lance-shaped, dark green leaves and spike-like racemes of star-shaped, purple-pink flowers from midsummer into autumn.
Lythrum salicaria is: Deciduous
Habit
Clump-forming, Branching, Erect
Flower
Purple-pink in Summer; Purple-pink in Autumn
Foliage
Dark-green in Spring; Dark-green in Summer; Dark-green in Autumn
How to care
Watch out for
Specific pests
General care
Pruning
Deadhead regularly. Remove faded flower stems to prevent self-seeding.
Propagation methods
Division
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Where to grow
Lythrum salicaria (Purple loosestrife) will reach a height of 1.2m and a spread of 0.5m after 2-5 years.
Suggested uses
Beds and borders, Bog garden, City, Cottage/Informal, Low Maintenance, Meadow, Waterside
Cultivation
Grow in any moist soil in full sun. Considered a noxious, invasive weed in some introduced areas.
Soil type
Clay, Loamy
Soil drainage
Boggy damp conditions, Moisture-retentive
Soil pH
Acid, Alkaline, Neutral
Light
Full Sun
Aspect
South, East, West
Exposure
Exposed, Sheltered
UK hardiness Note: We are working to update our ratings. Thanks for your patience.
Hardy (H4)
Companion plants
We do not currently have companion plants added for this plant.
Botanical name
Lythrum salicaria
Other names
Purple loosestrife, Black blood, Long purples, Purple grass, Rainbow weed, Red Sally, Rose loosestrife, Rosy strip, Sage willow, Soldiers, Spiked loosestrife, Willow weed
Genus
Lythrum Lythrum
Species
L. salicaria - L. salicaria is a vigorous, clump-forming, deciduous perennial with erect, branched stems bearing downy, lance-shaped, dark green leaves and spike-like racemes of star-shaped, purple-pink flowers from midsummer into autumn.
Native to
Asia, Europe
Foliage
Deciduous
Habit
Clump-forming, Branching, Erect
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Colour
Flower
Purple-pink in Summer; Purple-pink in Autumn
Foliage
Dark-green in Spring; Dark-green in Summer; Dark-green in Autumn
How to care
Watch out for
Specific pests
General care
Pruning
Deadhead regularly. Remove faded flower stems to prevent self-seeding.
Propagation methods
Division
Monthly care advice
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Where to grow
Lythrum salicaria (Purple loosestrife) will reach a height of 1.2m and a spread of 0.5m after 2-5 years.
Suggested uses
Beds and borders, Bog garden, City, Cottage/Informal, Low Maintenance, Meadow, Waterside
Cultivation
Grow in any moist soil in full sun. Considered a noxious, invasive weed in some introduced areas.
Soil type
Clay, Loamy
Soil drainage
Boggy damp conditions, Moisture-retentive
Soil pH
Acid, Alkaline, Neutral
Light
Full Sun
Aspect
South, East, West
Exposure
Exposed, Sheltered
UK hardiness Note: We are working to update our ratings. Thanks for your patience.
Hardy (H4)
USDA zones
Zone 9, Zone 8, Zone 7, Zone 6, Zone 5, Zone 4
In order to add a note on this plant, please add this plant to your plant lists.
| This plant likes... | Garden match | |
| Soil types: | Clay, Loamy | Tell us... |
| Soil drainage: | Boggy damp conditions, Moisture-retentive | Tell us... |
| Soil pH: | Acid, Alkaline, Neutral | Tell us... |
| Light: | Full Sun | Tell us... |
| Aspect: | South, East, West | Tell us... |
| Exposure: | Exposed, Sheltered | Tell us... |
| Hardiness: | Hardy (H4) | Tell us... |
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