U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service
America's National Wildlife Refuge System
Volunteers and Invasive Plants: Learning and Lending a Hand
Purple Loosestrife Origin
Purple loosestrife is believed to have been brought over from Europe in the early 1800s by settlers for their gardens, and in the soil contained in the ballast of ships.
Purple loosestrife flowers
on long vertical spikes
Purple loosestrife infestation in forest meadow
Photo credit: MT Dept. of Agriculture (left)
Ag. & Agri-Food Canada Archives, www.forestryimages.org (right)
Reference
Minnesota Sea Grant. http://www.seagrant.umn.edu/exotics/purple.html. Accessed 2006 Aug 30.