What does Purple Loosestrife look like?
One of the most easily recognizable features of purple loosestrife, at any time of the year, is its ridged, square stem. A single plant can produce as many as 30 stems growing from a central, woody root mass. The leaves are smooth, opposite, and attached directly to the stem. Each plant can grow as tall as two meters. Loosestrife flowers in late June to late September. The flowers are pink-purple in color and are tightly clustered on a long spike. Don’t confuse purple loosestrife with look alikes such as fireweed with its round stem. Back to top.
