Lythrum salicaria

RHS Plant Profile
purple loosestrife

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Other common names

black blood, llys y milwr, long purples, purple grass, rainbow weed, red Sally, rose loosestrife, rosy strip, sage willow, soldiers, spiked loosestrife, willow weed

Synonyms

Lythrum salicaria var. gracile

Plants for pollinators
Herbaceous Perennial
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A robust, herbaceous perennial with upright stems to 1.2m tall, clad in narrow, willowy leaves. Small, vivid purplish-pink flowers to around 2cm wide appear in dense terminal spikes over a long period in summer

Position

Full sun

Soil Types

Clay, Loam

Max Height

1-1.5 metres

Max Spread

0.1-0.5 metres

Size

Time to Maturity
2–5 years
Max Spread
0.1-0.5 metres
Max Height
1-1.5 metres

Growing Conditions

Clay Loam
Moisture
Poorly–drained
pH
Acid or Alkaline or Neutral

Position

Full sun
Aspect
South–facing or East–facing
Exposure
Exposed or Sheltered
Hardiness

Hardiness Ratings

All ratings refer to the UK growing conditions unless otherwise stated. Minimum temperature ranges (in degrees C) are shown in brackets

  • H1A: under glass all year (>15C)
  • H1B: can be grown outside in the summer (10 - 15)
  • H1C: can be grown outside in the summer (5 - 10)
  • H2: tolerant of low temperatures, but not surviving being frozen (1 to 5)
  • H3: hardy in coastal and relatively mild parts of the UK (-5 to 1)
  • H4: hardy through most of the UK (-10 to -5)
  • H5: hardy in most places throughout the UK even in severe winters (-15 to -10)
  • H6: hardy in all of UK and northern Europe (-20 to -15)
  • H7: hardy in the severest European continental climates (< -20)
H7

Colour & Scent

Season Stem Flower Foliage Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Botanical Details

Family
Lythraceae
Native to GB/Ireland
Yes
Foliage
Deciduous
Habit
Clump forming
Genus
Lythrum can be annuals or herbaceous perennials, with simple leaves in opposite pairs and small star-shaped flowers in leafy racemes
Name Status
Correct
Plant Range
Old World

How to Grow

Cultivation

Grow in any reliably moist soil in full sun

Propagation

Propagate by division in spring

Suggested planting locations and garden types

  • Cottage and informal garden
  • Wildlife gardens
  • Wildflower meadow
  • Flower borders and beds

Pruning

deadhead after flowering to prevent self-seeding

Pests

May be susceptible to slugs and snails

Diseases

Generally disease-free