Scientific Name: Lythrum salicaria
Common Name: purple loosestrife
Family Classification (Clade): Eudicots
Family: Lythraceae
Threatened Species Status: Vulnerable
Permit: It is an offence to collect, disturb, damage or destroy this species unless under permit.
Form Description: Erect perennial herb with a stout aerial stem, and lance-shaped, opposite, stalkless leaves.
Height (m): 0.5 – 1
Flowers: Flowers are tubular, deep pink to purple with 5 or 6 petals, and borne in spikes.
Fruit: Capsule
Municipality
Plant Communities
Habitat Notes
Swamps, streambanks and rivers in the north and north-east, and between gaps in Melaleuca ericifolia forest.
General Notes
Often self-sows in open ground. Cuttings can be taken from non-flowering laterals in the middle of summer and struck outdoors in shade. Requires constant moisture. Can reproduce vegetatively and may be bird dispersed. An easy garden plant which thrives in any soil, and forms a bushy and well-shaped clump. Cut back to ground level in winter.
Propagation Calendar
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Flowering Month
Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec -
Seed Collecting Month
Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec -
Sowing Month
Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec -
Cutting Month
Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
Propagation Method
Seed Information
Seed Treatment Method
Bog Method The seeds of many wetland species need to be kept wet to germinate. Punch a hole in the side of a recycled polyfoam box so that it holds water to the required depth. Sit the tubes in the box to germinate. Once germinated, punch holes in the bottom of the box to allow drainage.
Cutting & Division Information
Grown by division.