Plant Details

Lythrum salicaria

Purple Loosestrife

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Common names

59 names · 39 languages
EnglishYour language
  • bouquet violet[2]
  • Purple Loosestrife[1][2]
  • purple lythrum[2]
+4 more namesShow fewer names
  • purple-loosestrife[2]
  • rainbow weed[2]
  • salicaire[2]
  • spiked loostrife[2]
Other languages (38)
Dutch
  • Grote kattenstaart[2]
French
  • lythrum salicaire[2]
  • Salicaire[2]
  • Salicaire commune[2]
Arabic
  • عود الريح الأرجواني[2]
Armenian
  • Արենածաղիկ սովորական[2]
Belarusian
  • Чальчак вербалісты, ці Плакун-трава[2]
Bulgarian
  • Обикновена блатия[2]
Catalan
  • salicària[2]
Chinese (Simplified)
  • 光千屈菜[2]
  • 千屈菜[2]
Chinese (Traditional)
Croatian
  • Grimizna vrbica[2]
  • Purpurna vrbica[2]
  • Velika vrbica[2]
+1 more nameShow fewer names
Czech
  • kyprej vrbice[2]
Danish
Estonian
  • harilik kukesaba[2]
Finnish
  • pohjanrantakukka[2]
  • rantakukka[2]
Galician
  • Herba salgueira[2]
German
  • Gewöhnlicher Blutweiderich[1][2]
Greek
  • Λύθρο το Ιτεόμορφο[2]
Hebrew
  • שנית גדולה[2]
Hungarian
  • fűzfalevelű fű[2]
  • piros füzény[2]
  • réti füzény[2]
Irish
  • Créachtach[2]
Italian
  • salcerella[2]
Japanese
  • エゾミソハギ[2]
  • ミソハギ[2]
  • 蝦夷禊萩[2]
Korean
  • 부처꽃[2]
  • 털부처꽃[2]
Latvian
  • Vītolu vējmietiņš[2]
Lithuanian
  • Paprastoji raudoklė[2]
Norwegian
Polish
  • Krwawnica pospolita[2]
Portuguese
  • erva-carapau[2]
  • salgueirinha[2]
Romanian
Russian
  • Дербенник иволистный[2]
  • Плакун-трава[2]
Serbian
  • Поточњак[2]
Slovak
  • vrbica vŕbolistá[2]
Slovenian
  • navadna krvenka[2]
Spanish
  • Arroyuela eurasiática[2]
Swedish
  • fackelblomster[2]
Turkish
Ukrainian
  • Плакун верболистий[2]
Welsh
  • Llysiau'r-milwr coch[2]
Sources & name notes (2)

Names recorded in our plant catalogue and botanical sources, grouped by language. Usage can vary by region.

Numbered references identify names recorded by an external source. Other names are from our plant catalogue.

[1] Catalogue of Life 2026-08-20 — Lythrum salicaria L. ↗

Common names from World Plants, version 26.05, reproduced in Catalogue of Life 2026-08-20. License: CC BY.

Source records
  • Gewöhnlicher Blutweiderich (DE) — VernacularName.tsv, line 164610; taxon 3WVHJ.
  • Purple Loosestrife (EN) — VernacularName.tsv, line 164611; taxon 3WVHJ.
[2] Lythrum salicaria — iNaturalist taxon names ↗

Community-curated iNaturalist taxonomy; common-name attestation, not an independent botanical determination.

Source records
  • purple loosestrife — results[0].names[1]; taxon id 61321; Lythrum salicaria.
  • Salicaire commune — results[0].names[2]; taxon id 61321; Lythrum salicaria.
  • Gewöhnlicher Blutweiderich — results[0].names[3]; taxon id 61321; Lythrum salicaria.
  • salicària — results[0].names[5]; taxon id 61321; Lythrum salicaria.
  • erva-carapau — results[0].names[6]; taxon id 61321; Lythrum salicaria.
  • salgueirinha — results[0].names[7]; taxon id 61321; Lythrum salicaria.
  • rantakukka — results[0].names[8]; taxon id 61321; Lythrum salicaria.
  • salcerella — results[0].names[9]; taxon id 61321; Lythrum salicaria.
  • שנית גדולה — results[0].names[10]; taxon id 61321; Lythrum salicaria.
  • Salicaire — results[0].names[11]; taxon id 61321; Lythrum salicaria.
  • fackelblomster — results[0].names[12]; taxon id 61321; Lythrum salicaria.
  • エゾミソハギ — results[0].names[13]; taxon id 61321; Lythrum salicaria.
  • 蝦夷禊萩 — results[0].names[14]; taxon id 61321; Lythrum salicaria.
  • Kattehale — results[0].names[15]; taxon id 61321; Lythrum salicaria.
  • kattehale — results[0].names[16]; taxon id 61321; Lythrum salicaria.
  • kyprej vrbice — results[0].names[17]; taxon id 61321; Lythrum salicaria.
  • grote kattenstaart — results[0].names[18]; taxon id 61321; Lythrum salicaria.
  • purple-loosestrife — results[0].names[19]; taxon id 61321; Lythrum salicaria.
  • Λύθρο το Ιτεόμορφο — results[0].names[20]; taxon id 61321; Lythrum salicaria.
  • Arroyuela eurasiática — results[0].names[21]; taxon id 61321; Lythrum salicaria.
  • Дербенник иволистный — results[0].names[22]; taxon id 61321; Lythrum salicaria.
  • Плакун-трава — results[0].names[23]; taxon id 61321; Lythrum salicaria.
  • Обикновена блатия — results[0].names[24]; taxon id 61321; Lythrum salicaria.
  • Paprastoji raudoklė — results[0].names[25]; taxon id 61321; Lythrum salicaria.
  • 털부처꽃 — results[0].names[26]; taxon id 61321; Lythrum salicaria.
  • pohjanrantakukka — results[0].names[27]; taxon id 61321; Lythrum salicaria.
  • Krwawnica pospolita — results[0].names[28]; taxon id 61321; Lythrum salicaria.
  • lythrum salicaire — results[0].names[29]; taxon id 61321; Lythrum salicaria.
  • harilik kukesaba — results[0].names[30]; taxon id 61321; Lythrum salicaria.
  • 千屈菜 — results[0].names[31]; taxon id 61321; Lythrum salicaria.
  • 千屈菜 — results[0].names[32]; taxon id 61321; Lythrum salicaria.
  • Поточњак — results[0].names[33]; taxon id 61321; Lythrum salicaria.
  • Créachtach — results[0].names[34]; taxon id 61321; Lythrum salicaria.
  • Herba salgueira — results[0].names[35]; taxon id 61321; Lythrum salicaria.
  • vrbica vŕbolistá — results[0].names[36]; taxon id 61321; Lythrum salicaria.
  • Vrbica — results[0].names[37]; taxon id 61321; Lythrum salicaria.
  • Grimizna vrbica — results[0].names[38]; taxon id 61321; Lythrum salicaria.
  • Плакун верболистий — results[0].names[39]; taxon id 61321; Lythrum salicaria.
  • Velika vrbica — results[0].names[40]; taxon id 61321; Lythrum salicaria.
  • Чальчак вербалісты, ці Плакун-трава — results[0].names[41]; taxon id 61321; Lythrum salicaria.
  • Արենածաղիկ սովորական — results[0].names[42]; taxon id 61321; Lythrum salicaria.
  • purple lythrum — results[0].names[43]; taxon id 61321; Lythrum salicaria.
  • spiked loostrife — results[0].names[44]; taxon id 61321; Lythrum salicaria.
  • salicaire — results[0].names[45]; taxon id 61321; Lythrum salicaria.
  • bouquet violet — results[0].names[46]; taxon id 61321; Lythrum salicaria.
  • rainbow weed — results[0].names[47]; taxon id 61321; Lythrum salicaria.
  • navadna krvenka — results[0].names[48]; taxon id 61321; Lythrum salicaria.
  • Hevhulma — results[0].names[49]; taxon id 61321; Lythrum salicaria.
  • 光千屈菜 — results[0].names[50]; taxon id 61321; Lythrum salicaria.
  • ミソハギ — results[0].names[51]; taxon id 61321; Lythrum salicaria.
  • عود الريح الأرجواني — results[0].names[52]; taxon id 61321; Lythrum salicaria.
  • réti füzény — results[0].names[53]; taxon id 61321; Lythrum salicaria.
  • fűzfalevelű fű — results[0].names[54]; taxon id 61321; Lythrum salicaria.
  • piros füzény — results[0].names[55]; taxon id 61321; Lythrum salicaria.
  • Vītolu vējmietiņš — results[0].names[56]; taxon id 61321; Lythrum salicaria.
  • Răchitan — results[0].names[57]; taxon id 61321; Lythrum salicaria.
  • Purpurna vrbica — results[0].names[58]; taxon id 61321; Lythrum salicaria.
  • Llysiau'r-milwr coch — results[0].names[59]; taxon id 61321; Lythrum salicaria.
  • 부처꽃 — results[0].names[60]; taxon id 61321; Lythrum salicaria.

General information

Scientific name: Lythrum salicaria
Accepted name (Kew): Lythrum salicaria L. View name reference ↗

Accepted in the cited Kew taxonomic treatment.

Sources [1] [2]
Botanical family: Lythraceae

Kew's family placement for the genus Lythrum (WCVP v16).

Sources [1]
Also known as: Purple Loosestrife
Images: Google Images

Plant characteristics

Layer: Aquatic
Catalogue size class: Small
Height: 0.61–1.83 m

NC State landscape size range; converted from feet and inches. Size varies with site, age and management.

Sources [3]
Spread: 0.61–1.22 m

NC State landscape size range; converted from feet and inches. Size varies with site, age and management.

Sources [3]
Growth rate: Fast
Sources [3]
Foliage: None
Growth habit: Erect

Whole-plant habit and form as described by NC State.

Sources [3]
Life cycle: Perennial
Sources [3]

Growing conditions

USDA hardiness: 3a, 3b, 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b

USDA zones listed by NC State; winter survival does not establish reliable cropping.

Sources [3]
Soil moisture:
Well-drained, Occasionally Wet

Moisture and drainage conditions listed by NC State.

Sources [3]
Soil:
Sand (light) Loam (medium) Clay (heavy)
pH:
Acidic Neutral Alkaline
Light:
Full sun
Sources [3]

Uses

Edible parts:
Leaves, kleur, Root
Edibility rating:
(2)
Medicinal rating:
(3)
Functions:
Dye, Cosmetic use, Preservative, Bee forage

Description

Leaves: can be cooked and are a good source of calcium. Roots: also suitable for cooking. Flowers: you can extract an edible dye from the flowers.

Harvest

Harvest starts: 01/07
Harvest ends: 30/09

Sources and references

References for the information marked with source numbers on this page.

Sources checked
  1. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew World Checklist of Vascular Plants, version 16, extracted 4 June 2026
    Supports: Botanical familyTaxonomy
    Relevant sections
    • Botanical family: WCVP v16, wcvp_names.csv row 494467; name ID 2353921; Lythrum L.. Family column.
    • Taxonomy: WCVP v16, wcvp_names.csv row 68992; name ID 2354139; Lythrum salicaria L..

    Source checked on .

    Source data licence: CC BY 3.0.

  2. Catalogue of Life Catalogue of Life 2026-08-20 — Lythrum salicaria

    Taxonomic data from World Plants, version 26.05, reproduced in Catalogue of Life 2026-08-20.

    Supports: Taxonomy
    Relevant sections
    • Taxonomy: COL 2026-08-20, NameUsage.tsv line 572378, ID 3WVHJ: Lythrum salicaria L. (accepted).

    Source checked on .

  3. NC State Extension, North Carolina State University Lythrum salicaria — Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox
    Supports: HeightSpreadGrowth rateGrowth habitLife cycleLightSoil moistureUSDA hardiness
    Relevant sections
    • Height: Dimensions > Height; Height: 2 ft. 0 in. - 6 ft. 0 in.
    • Spread: Dimensions > Width; Width: 2 ft. 0 in. - 4 ft. 0 in.
    • Growth rate: Growth Rate
    • Growth habit: Habit/Form
    • Life cycle: Life Cycle
    • Light: Light
    • Soil moisture: Soil Drainage
    • USDA hardiness: USDA Plant Hardiness Zone

    Source checked on .