Please help stop the spread of this attractive yet dangerous invader! Purple loosestrife (Lythrum salicaria) has been blooming for a few weeks now and can be seen along our roadsides, in marshy areas such
as Maple Hollow and in some gardens and yards. To learn
about why we need to control
its spread, click here. For
photos and more info,
click here.

In CT, it is prohibited by state statute to distribute, transplant, cultivate, etc. this plant! If you don't have time to dig or pull it out, please cut the flowerheads, place them in a tightly closed, black, plastic garbage bag and place in the sun so that the heat will destroy any seed potential. By keeping them from spreading by seed this year, you can buy some time and then go back and eradicate the plants later. If left unchecked, this plant will take over meadows, marshy areas and crowd out the native plants that our local web of wildlife depends on for food.

A good plant to replace this with is native Liatris, often called Blazing Star or Gayfeather. Be sure to plant a native form
that is grown in a responsible manner. Some Liatris is on the
CT list of special concern as
it is dwindling in the wild.