Pollinator plant

Purple Loosestrife

Lythrum salicaria

Linked agroforestry plant data
Pollinator recipe
Sign in to use recipes

Common names

17 names

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

English
Dutch
  • Gewone kattenstaart
  • Grote kattenstaart[5]
French
  • lythrum salicaire[5]
  • Salicaire[5]
  • Salicaire commune[5]
German
  • Gewöhnlicher Blutweiderich[5][6]
Italian
  • salcerella[5]
Portuguese
  • erva-carapau[5]
  • salgueirinha[5]
Spanish
  • Arroyuela eurasiática[5]

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

[1] Lythrum salicaria — Plant Toolbox common names ↗

NC State Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox; English common names in a United States horticultural reference.

Source records
  • Purple Loosestrife — ul#common_names > li:nth-of-type(1); heading: Common Name(s):; Lythrum salicaria.
[2] Royal Horticultural Society — common names ↗

Names retained from the referenced botanical profile or table.

Source records
  • purple loosestrife — Page 2, column 1, row top 172 pt; common-name cell after Lythrum salicaria.; Lythrum salicaria.
[3] Royal Horticultural Society — common names ↗

Names retained from the referenced botanical profile or table.

Source records
  • purple loosestrife — Page 4, column 2, row top 127 pt; common-name cell after Lythrum salicaria.; Lythrum salicaria.
[4] Royal Horticultural Society — common names ↗

Names retained from the referenced botanical profile or table.

Source records
  • purple loosestrife — Page 4, column 1, row top 667 pt; common-name cell after Lythrum salicaria.; Lythrum salicaria.
[5] Lythrum salicaria — iNaturalist taxon names ↗

Community-curated iNaturalist taxonomy. This is a common-name attestation, not an independent botanical determination.

Source records
  • purple loosestrife — results[0].names[1]; taxon id 61321; Lythrum salicaria.
  • grote kattenstaart — results[0].names[18]; 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.
  • bouquet violet — results[0].names[46]; taxon id 61321; Lythrum salicaria.
  • purple lythrum — results[0].names[43]; taxon id 61321; Lythrum salicaria.
  • purple-loosestrife — results[0].names[19]; taxon id 61321; Lythrum salicaria.
  • rainbow weed — results[0].names[47]; taxon id 61321; Lythrum salicaria.
  • salicaire — results[0].names[45]; taxon id 61321; Lythrum salicaria.
  • spiked loostrife — results[0].names[44]; taxon id 61321; Lythrum salicaria.
  • Arroyuela eurasiática — results[0].names[21]; taxon id 61321; Lythrum salicaria.
  • lythrum salicaire — results[0].names[29]; taxon id 61321; Lythrum salicaria.
  • Salicaire — results[0].names[11]; taxon id 61321; Lythrum salicaria.
  • salcerella — results[0].names[9]; 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.
[6] Catalogue of Life 2026-08-20 — Lythrum salicaria ↗

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

Source records
  • Purple Loosestrife (EN) — VernacularName.tsv, line 164611; taxon 3WVHJ.
  • Gewöhnlicher Blutweiderich (DE) — VernacularName.tsv, line 164610; taxon 3WVHJ.
Plant references

Source-backed information

Published observations for this plant. Each reference supports the information beside it.

Taxonomy
Lythrum salicaria is an accepted species in Catalogue of Life.

Taxonomic treatment in the August 2026 release; the catalogue record name is preserved.

Sources [1]
Botanical family
Lythraceae

Family in the cited taxonomic treatment.

Sources [1]
Mature height
0.61–1.83 m

NC State Extension profile. Converted from the source range in feet and inches; mature size varies with growing conditions.

Sources [2]
Mature spread
0.61–1.22 m

NC State Extension profile. Converted from the source range in feet and inches; mature size varies with growing conditions.

Sources [2]
Plant habit
Erect

NC State Extension profile.

Sources [2]
Life cycle
Perennial

NC State Extension profile.

Sources [2]
Growth rate
Rapid

NC State Extension profile.

Sources [2]
Light
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)

NC State Extension profile.

Sources [2]
Moisture and drainage
Good Drainage; Occasionally Wet

NC State Extension profile.

Sources [2]
Flowering season
Summer

NC State Extension profile. Seasons reflect the source region and do not verify the catalogue’s exact flowering months.

Sources [2]
Native range
Europe, Africa and Asia-Temperate

NC State Extension profile. Origin reported by the source; this is not a claim of local nativeness.

Sources [2]
Pollinator guidance
RHS includes Lythrum salicaria in its Plants for Pollinators guidance.

RHS planting guidance. Choose accessible flowers with pollen and nectar; reduced-resource and double-flowered forms may be unsuitable.

Sources [3] [4] [5]
Catalogue ratings

Who this plant supports

Honey bees

High suitability
Nectar value High
Pollen value High
Agroforestry database

Complete plant information

Open full plant profile

Structure

Vegetation layer
Water
Size
Small
Dimensions
1.00 m high × 0.50 m wide
Growth rate
Fast
Lifecycle
Perennial

Site conditions

USDA hardiness
3-10
Moisture
Moist, Wet
Soil
Sandy, Loamy, Clay
pH
Acid, Neutral, Alkaline
Light
Partial shade, Sun

Uses

Edible parts
Leaves, kleur, Root
Functions
Dye, Cosmetic, Preservative, Pollinator plant
Edibility
2 out of 5
Medicinal value
3 out of 5

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.

Sources and references

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

Sources checked
  1. Catalogue of Life Lythrum salicaria — Catalogue of Life COL26.8

    COL26.8 (2026-08-20). Contributing checklist: Synonymic Checklists of the Vascular Plants of the World. This is taxonomic evidence, not an independent ecological study.

    Supports: TaxonomyBotanical family
    Relevant sections
    • Taxonomy: NameUsage.tsv line 572378; ID 3WVHJ; rank species; status accepted
    • Botanical family: NameUsage.tsv line 572378; ID 3WVHJ; rank species; status accepted

    Source checked on .

    Source data licence: CC BY 4.0.

  2. NC State Extension Lythrum salicaria — Plant Toolbox

    NC State Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox. Growing conditions and seasons reflect its United States horticultural context.

    Supports: Mature heightMature spreadPlant habitLife cycleGrowth rateLightMoisture and drainageFlowering seasonNative range
    Relevant sections
    • Mature height: Dimensions / Height
    • Mature spread: Dimensions / Width
    • Plant habit: Habit/Form
    • Life cycle: Life Cycle
    • Growth rate: Growth Rate
    • Light: Light
    • Moisture and drainage: Soil Drainage
    • Flowering season: Flower Bloom Time
    • Native range: Country Or Region Of Origin

    Source checked on .

  3. Royal Horticultural Society RHS Plants for Pollinators — Wildflowers

    RHS planting guidance; applicable flower-form restrictions are retained. General recommendations do not measure local nectar or pollen production.

    Supports: Pollinator guidance
    Relevant sections
    • Pollinator guidance: Page 4, column 2, entry Lythrum salicaria (top 127 pt)

    Source checked on .

  4. Royal Horticultural Society RHS Plants for Pollinators — Garden Plants

    RHS planting guidance; applicable flower-form restrictions are retained. General recommendations do not measure local nectar or pollen production.

    Supports: Pollinator guidance
    Relevant sections
    • Pollinator guidance: Page 4, column 1, entry Lythrum salicaria (top 667 pt)

    Source checked on .

  5. Royal Horticultural Society RHS Plants for Pollinators — Plants Of The World

    RHS planting guidance; applicable flower-form restrictions are retained. General recommendations do not measure local nectar or pollen production.

    Supports: Pollinator guidance
    Relevant sections
    • Pollinator guidance: Page 2, column 1, entry Lythrum salicaria (top 172 pt)

    Source checked on .