Question: This plant is growing wild this summer from a lot that was cleared for our new condo development. It is …
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Question
This plant is growing wild this summer from a lot that was cleared for our new condo development. It is actually only 10 feet from a huge rain made pond. I am interested in either getting seeds once they appear or transferring it to a container but need to know if anyone can identify it and if it will grow in container from seeds. This plant is growing in Chelsea MA. These are the only two growing on the lot. Nothing else looks close. The flowers are beautiful.
Answer
Dear Admetric, good afternoon. The plant you photographed is Lythrum salicaria (purple loosestrife), a non-native and very invasive species that aggressively colonizes wetlands and shorelines. It is beautiful, no doubt, but can displace other species and grow in dense colonies. I understand your desire to collect seeds, but this one has become a major issue in Massachusetts wetlands.
