purple loosestrife
noun
: a perennial Eurasian marsh herb (Lythrum salicaria) of the loosestrife family that is naturalized in eastern North America and has long spikes of purple flowers
Examples of purple loosestrife in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Industry, however, is not the only threat to these ecosystems along the Grand Calumet River; so are invasive species such as the purple loosestrife.
—
Adriana Pérez, Chicago Tribune, 31 Aug. 2025
At the crack of dawn, a thin silver light drips over the masses of purple loosestrife flowers that wave against the big solid stones and sash windows of the old manse.
—Cnt Editors, Condé Nast Traveler, 13 Dec. 2023
Instead: For a long-lasting punch of purple in the garden, plant native purple coneflower or blazing star instead of purple loosestrife.
—Megan Hughes, Better Homes & Gardens, 30 Sep. 2022
Many of the worst plant pests in natural environments, such as purple loosestrife (Lythrum salicaria), Japanese barberry (Berberis thunbergii), burning bush (Euonymus alatus) and Japanese honeysuckle (Lonicera japonica), are garden escapees.
—Richard Pallardy, Discover Magazine, 15 Oct. 2021
But beware of invasive plants in the region, such as purple loosestrife, autumn olive, Norway maple, tree of heaven and kudzu vines.
—Washington Post, 13 Oct. 2021
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Adriana Pérez, Chicago Tribune, 31 Aug. 2025
At the crack of dawn, a thin silver light drips over the masses of purple loosestrife flowers that wave against the big solid stones and sash windows of the old manse.
—Cnt Editors, Condé Nast Traveler, 13 Dec. 2023
Instead: For a long-lasting punch of purple in the garden, plant native purple coneflower or blazing star instead of purple loosestrife.
—Megan Hughes, Better Homes & Gardens, 30 Sep. 2022
Many of the worst plant pests in natural environments, such as purple loosestrife (Lythrum salicaria), Japanese barberry (Berberis thunbergii), burning bush (Euonymus alatus) and Japanese honeysuckle (Lonicera japonica), are garden escapees.
—Richard Pallardy, Discover Magazine, 15 Oct. 2021
But beware of invasive plants in the region, such as purple loosestrife, autumn olive, Norway maple, tree of heaven and kudzu vines.
—Washington Post, 13 Oct. 2021
Cite this Entry
“Purple loosestrife.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/purple%20loosestrife. Accessed 10 Sep. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share