Lythrum lanceolatum / Lythrum alatum var. lanceolatum (Southern Winged Loosestrife)

Description

3′-6′ High Native Perennial is covered with magenta blooms from Summer through Fall attracting numerous Hummingbirds, Native Bees, Butterflies, Skippers and Bee-flies and Syrphid Flies. It is a larval host of the Pearly Wood Nymph.  For centuries, Purple Loosestrifes (Lythrum sps.)  have been used medicinally for various ailments.  Plant in sun or part shade in average to wet soil.  Somewhat salt-tolerant, it usually occurs near the upper edges of salt marshes in our area.  It spreads by stolons helping to prevent bank erosion. Native to AL, AR, FL, GA, KY, LA, MS, NC, OK, SC, TN, TX and VA.  We propagated our plants from native populations in Beaufort Co., SC.