Lythrum alatum var. lanceolatum

Queen butterfly nectaring on L. alatum © John Lampkin

Three-spotted Skipper on L. alatum © John Lampkin

White peacock nectaring on L. alatum © John Lampkin

Ceratina floridana nectaring on L. alatum © John Lampkin

Southern skipperling nectaring on L. alatum © John Lampkin

Photographs belong to the photographers who allow use for FNPS purposes only. Please contact the photographer for all other uses.

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Loosestrife

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.

Propagation:

Seeds are available through the Florida Wildflowers Growers Cooperative.

Availability:

Native nurseries, Seed

Light:

Full Sun

Moisture Tolerance:

always floodedextremely dry

(Stays Wet ----- to ----- Somewhat moist, no flooding)

Moisture Tolerance:

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

Salt Water Flooding Tolerance:

Not salt tolerant of inundation by salty or brackish water.

Salt Spray/ Salty Soil Tolerance:

Low/no tolerance of salty wind or direct salt spray

Soil or other substrate:

Loam, Sand

Soil pH:

Ecology

Wildlife:

Insects:

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. (Illinois Wildflowers).

Native Habitats:

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

Distribution and Planting Zones

Natural Range in Florida

USDA Zones

Suitable to grow in:
10A 10B 8A 8B 9A 9B

USDA zones are based on minimum winter temperatures

Comments

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.