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

Example Sentences

Recent Examples on the Web

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

Others include buckthorn, Japanese honeysuckle, barberry and purple loosestrife. —Beth Botts, Chicago Tribune, 5 Nov. 2022

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

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

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

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

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

Carpets of bright-green grass blanketed the glassy surface of the water, accented here and there by clusters of purple loosestrife, a spiky invasive plant, as an aluminum skiff glided silently over the water. —Shantal Riley, Washington Post, 12 Jan. 2022

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Word History

First Known Use

1548, in the meaning defined above