Purple Loosestrife
This beautiful branch of purple flowers may not seem like it could be harmful to the environment, but it’s not native to the U.S. These blooms are perennial plants that have taken over some American wetlands, according to the New York State Invasive Species network. They’re usually found in marshes, ponds, and along streams. Loosestrife flowers are native to Asia, Northern Africa, and Europe but were introduced to the U.S. in the early 1800s. They’ve spread to most states and Canada, too.
The purple loosestrife’s thick vegetation threatens to push out native plants. Small infestations can be ripped up by hand, but anyone trying to remove these from a wetland needs to make sure that all of the roots are pulled out. If there are large infestations, herbicides may need to be applied.
