Question: My wetland meadow in NW CT has a number of loosestrifes, but I'm not sure which type I have. They …
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Question
My wetland meadow in NW CT has a number of loosestrifes, but I'm not sure which type I have. They appear to be purple loosestrife, but it's not an aggressive invader, it's been here for several decades and has never really taken off, I only have around two dozen plants in a five acre wetland. Their size doesn't seem to fit with purple loosestrife from what I've read of it, the tallest ones are around the same height as that native goldenrods. I can easily control them if that's what they are.
Answer
Dear JoshuaH, while there are other species of Lythrum that occur in New England, including some native species, your plant does appear to be Lythrum salicaria (purple loosestrife). I've seen it not be terribly invasive in some wetlands before, though it is difficult to predict its behavior in one or more decades when it becomes more established.
