Re: Other types of loosestrife - ok? -- SD/NE Purple Loosestrife MGMT Project Discussion

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Date Posted: 07:39:18 02/24/01 Sat
Author: Cathy
Subject: Re: Other types of loosestrife - ok?
In reply to: Laura Tubridy 's message, "Other types of loosestrife - ok?" on 10:47:14 02/07/01 Wed

>Hello,
>
>As a former lawyer for the Louisiana Dept. of Wildlife
>and Fisheries (on environmental issues), I have known
>for some time about the volatility of purple
>loosestrife. Last year I bought some plants at a
>local (Ottawa, Ontario) nursery last year, planted
>them and kept the tags. They were labelled "lystrum"
>-- without knowing the scientific name of loosestrife,
>I thought they were fine. I then discovered that they
>are loosestrife but I'm not 100% sure that they are
>the volatile purple loosestrife. They are tall (grow
>to about 6 feet tall in growing season) with
>blueish/purpleish blooms and long thin leaves. They
>seem to be extremely hardy. Are there any closely
>related varieties of loosestrife that are okay and
>non-invasive? Do you think that a nursery (Canadian)
>would actually sell "purple loosestrife?" Does any
>one know of an organization in Ontario (preferably
>around Ottawa) where I could bring a sample plant in
>for identification? Please e-mail me with a response!
>
>Thanks very much.
>
>Laura T.

Laura, It sounds like you bought purple loosestrife, Lythrum salicaria. Unfortunately I don't think Canada has banned the sale of this plant yet. Although nurseries claim that the varieties they sell are "self-sterile", if there are any wild loosestrife in the vicinity they will cross pollinate and produce viable seeds. You can contact the Ontario Federation of Anglers and Hunters, they have an excellent website and brochure on control methods for purple loosestrife. They have a hotline, but I don't have the phone number here at home. If you're unable to find it, you can email me and I will send it to you. I realize it's a beautiful plant, but you really should remove it and replace it with a similar native plant or at least a non-invasive. There are native species of loosestrife, such as Decodon (swamp loosestrife) or "winged loosestrife". There are also other native species that are similar in appearance - "fireweed", blue vervain, meadowsweet,joe pye weed, ironweed, and even new england asters.

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