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
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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
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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
Cite this Entry
“Purple loosestrife.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/purple%20loosestrife. Accessed 30 Oct. 2025.
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