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
Heavy development also made the land vulnerable to non-native buckthorn, honeysuckle, garlic mustard, purple loosestrife, multiflora rose and mulberry.
—
Susan Degrane, Chicago Tribune, 29 Oct. 2024
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
Roadside drainage ditches are a perfect nursery for invasive wetland plants, such as purple loosestrife (Lythrum salicaria), with its violet-colored flower spikes, and common reed (Phragmites Phragmites australis ssp.
—Beth Botts, Chicago Tribune, 29 July 2023
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
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
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.
Susan Degrane, Chicago Tribune, 29 Oct. 2024
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
Roadside drainage ditches are a perfect nursery for invasive wetland plants, such as purple loosestrife (Lythrum salicaria), with its violet-colored flower spikes, and common reed (Phragmites Phragmites australis ssp.
—Beth Botts, Chicago Tribune, 29 July 2023
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
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
Cite this Entry
“Purple loosestrife.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/purple%20loosestrife. Accessed 8 Jul. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share