Photo by: Shirley Denton, Suncoast Chapter FNPS
Photo by: John Bradford, Martin County Chapter FNPS
Photo by: John Lampkin, Nature Coast FNPS
Photo by: John Lampkin, Nature Coast FNPS
Photo by: John Lampkin, Nature Coast FNPS
Photo by: John Lampkin, Nature Coast FNPS
Photo by: John Lampkin, Nature Coast FNPS
Photo by: Shirley Denton, Suncoast Chapter FNPS
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Nomenclature

Common Name:

loosestrife

Synonym(s):

Genus species:

Lythrum alatum var. lanceolatum

Family:

Lythraceae

Plant Specifics

Form:

flower

Size:

2-3 ft tall.

Life Span:

Long-lived perennial

Flower Color:

lavender

Fruit Color:

NA

Phenology:

Winter dormant. Blooms in summer.

Noted For:

Showy Flowers

Landscaping

Recommended Uses:

Moist/wet wildflower garden.

Considerations:

Availability:

Native Nurseries, Seed

Propagation:

Seeds are available through the Florida Wildflowers Growers Cooperative.

Light:

Full Sun

Moisture Tolerance:

Always Flooded------------------------------------------------Extremely Dry

Coming Soon!

Stays wet ---to--- Somewhat moist, no flooding

Salt Water Flooding Tolerance:

Unknown

Salt Spray/Salty Soil Tolerance:

Low/no tolerance of salty wind or direct salt spray

Soil or Other Substrate:

Sand

Soil pH:

Suitable to Grow In:

8A,8B,9A,9B,10A,10B

Ecology

Wildlife:

Pollinators, Butterflies

This plant is an insect magnet!







  • It attracts insects including long-tongued bees, green metallic bees, bee flies, butterflies, and skippers.


  • Among the long-tongued bees, are such visitors as honeybees, bumblebees, cuckoo bees ( Epeolus spp.,  Triepeolus spp.,  Coelioxys spp.), long-horned bees ( Melissodes spp.,  Svastra spp.), and leaf-cutting bees ( Megachile spp.). 


  • Syrphid flies feed on the pollen, but they are non-pollinating. (I llinois Wildflowers ).


Native Habitats:

Moist-wet sites. Wet flatwoods, roadside ditches in former flatwoods.

Natural Range in Florida:

Comments:

Ethnobotany:

General Comments:

Some literature sources suggest that this species may have some salt tolerance as it apparently grows along the upper edges of some salt marshes, but so far as we have seen recorded, not in Florida.