A.k.a. winged lythrum. A native loosestrife with distinctive light purple blooms. It generally only has a few flowers on each stalk open at once, which are replaced by new flowers as soon as they are spent. These rolling blooms mean it can have open flowers for most of the summer! Easily grown as long as it is not allowed to dry out- young plants in particular are vulnerable to summer drought. Spreads slowly by rhizome. Reseeds only in consistently moist conditions. Best grown among other wetland plants, as it tends to become sparse and droopy in late summer. 

An excellent native alternative for the invasive purple loosestrife and dame’s rocket!

Light: Full Sun

Soil Moisture: Wet, Wet Mesic

Soil Type: Loam, Part Loam

Height: 2’-3’

Bloom Color: Lavender

Bloom Time: Jun-Sep

Root Type: Rhizome

Notable Wildlife Interactions: Flowers attract a variety of bees, butterflies, and skippers. Hosts the pearly wood nymph moth and a few other small insects.