26/05/2026
❌Monday’s Most Wanted—"The Pretty Deceiver”
Our 9th pick for Most Wanted Invasive Plant is purple loosestrife (Lythrum salicaria). 🌷With its tall spikes of vibrant purple, it may look like a lovely flower to add to your garden, but ❌don’t be fooled by “the pretty deceiver!”
❌Purple loosestrife is a fast-spreading and aggressive invasive plant that can grow up to 7 feet high and produce up to ONE MILLION seeds per plant. (Even we had to read that last sentence again—yikes!) 🌿 It also spreads through its root system, quickly taking over wetlands and pushing out native plants.
✅Removal Tips: Small patches of purple loosestrife can be hand-pulled or dug out. Larger infestations may require systemic herbicide treatment to fully control.
✅Native alternatives include spiked blazing-star, great blue lobelia, and swamp milkweed. 🦋Just as pretty and they attract native pollinators as well!
✨To learn more, visit ohiodnr.gov/invasiveplants or contact your county’s soil and water conservation district or OSU Extension program.
Check back next Monday for #9 on our Most Wanted Invasive Plant List!
