Lythrum salicaria (purple loosestrife)

Lythrum salicaria

Photo courtesy Bob Case

Lythrum salicaria (purple loosestrife) is a wetland herb (family Lythraceae) that invades scattered freshwater wetlands of northern and central California. Infestations are found in northern California and the San Francisco Bay Area, as well as along rivers in the southern Sierra. It is a hardy perennial that can rapidly degrade wetlands, diminishing their value for wildlife habitat.

Cal-IPC Inventory rating: High

Cal-IPC Resources on Lythrum salicaria

• California Invasive Plant Inventory Plant Assessment Form - Information gathered by Cal-IPC on the impacts, rate of spread, and distribution of invasive plants in California. Does not include management information.
• CalWeedMapper - Statewide maps, climate models, and reports.
• Species account from Invasive Plants of California's Wildlands - Includes biology and management information.
• Cal-IPC News - Articles from our quarterly newsletter. Each issue is available as a pdf. List of articles on Lythrum salicaria.
• Cal-IPC Symposium Proceedings - Presentations and papers from our annual Symposium.List of articles on Lythrum salicaria.
• Don't Plant a Pest! - Alternatives to invasive plants for aquatic gardens.

Cal-IPC News Articles

• Stack, L. B. (2009). Chasing weeds from Maine to California. Cal-IPC News. 16: 10,12.
• (1995). Biological control of invasive exotic pest plant species: A report on the importance of maintaining and enhancing our nation's biological control capabilities. CalEPPCNews. 3: 6-10.
• Pitcairn, M. (2000). All weeds that have approved biological control agents, accidental introductions and others. CalEPPC News. 8.
• Richardson, B. (2004). The A-rated north. Cal-IPC News. 12: 4-5,14.

Cal-IPC Symposium Proceedings

• Benefield, C. (2000). Preventing the purple plague from taking over California's waterways. California Exotic Pest Plant Council Symposium 2000. Concord, CA.
• Benefield, C. B. and D. Butler (2001). Purple loosestrife under siege in California. California Exotic Pest Plant Council Symposium 2001. San Diego, CA.
• Blossey, B. (1996). The search for patterns or what determines the increased competitive ability of invasive non-indigenous plants? California Exotic Pest Plant Council Symposium '96. San Diego, CA.
• Brown, W. Y. and A. G. Brown (1998). Campaign against invasive species: A call for action. California Exotic Pest Council '98 Symposium. Ontario, CA.
• Butler, D. and S. Schoenig (2002). Preventing the purple plague from taking over California's wetlands. California Exotic Pest Plant Council Symposium 2002. Sacramento, CA.
• Chornesky, E. A. and C. M. Palmer (1995). Use of biologically based methods to control pest plants:Issues related to federal research, regulation, and implementation. Proceedings California Exotic Pest Plant Council Symposium '95. Pacific Grove, CA.
• DiTomaso, J. M. (2005). Efficacy and safety of new herbicides on the horizon. California Invasive Plant Council Symposium 2005. Chico, CA.
• Donaldson, S. G. (1997). Flood-borne noxious weeds: Impacts on riparian areas and wetlands. California Exotic Pest Plant Council Symposium '97. Concord, CA.
• Westbrooks, R. G. (1995). Federal regulatory efforts to minimize the introduction and impacts of exotic pest plants in the United States. CalEPPC Symposium '95. Asilomar, CA.
• Westbrooks, R. G. (2001). Invasive species, coming to America: New strategies for biological protection through prescreening, early warning, and rapid response. California Exotic Pest Plant Council Symposium 2001. San Diego, CA.

Other Resources on Lythrum salicaria

• USDA PLANTS database - Federal database with information on identification and distribution, and links to websites in individual states.
• Jepson Online Interchange for California Flora - Information on taxonomy, biology, and distribution from the UC Berkeley Jepson Herbarium.
• CalFlora - Distribution information by county based on submitted observations and herbarium specimens.
• The Nature Conservancy Element Stewardship Abstract - Information compiled by TNC land managers. Photos included for some species.
• Encycloweedia - Plants rated as noxious weeds by the California Department of Food and Agriculture.
• CalPhotos - Images of plants taken mostly in California.
• Natural Resource Projects Inventory - State database with information on resource management projects throughout California. Query by the species of interest.
• California Department of Food and Agriculture - Purple Loosestrife Control Project.

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