Today's photo is Purple Loosestrife (Lythrum salicaria L.) growing through a fence along the road. This plant gets a bad rap for being an invasive species, but I have always found it extremely beautiful as it adds a brilliant splash of purple to the landscape.
Loosestrife was introduced to the United States from Europe in the 1800's as a medicinal and ornamental plant, explains the Natural Resources Council of Maine (NRCM). The problem is: This aggressive plant spreads rapidly and displaces other native plants, posing a risk to wildlife that depends on them.
You can find loosestrife growing along roadsides, in ditches and in marshy areas throughout Maine. It may be tempting to add them to your backyard, but it is not recommended. This plant spreads at a rate of a foot a year and self seeds readily. One plant can produce up to 30 flowering spikes and produce an amazing 3 million seeds each year, says NRCM.
If you enjoy the beauty of loosestrife, go ahead and have fun photographing this beauty, but resist the urge to transplant them into your backyard.
Thanks for stopping by. If you enjoy my photos and blog posts, please share them with others who may be interested, too.
Loosestrife was introduced to the United States from Europe in the 1800's as a medicinal and ornamental plant, explains the Natural Resources Council of Maine (NRCM). The problem is: This aggressive plant spreads rapidly and displaces other native plants, posing a risk to wildlife that depends on them.
You can find loosestrife growing along roadsides, in ditches and in marshy areas throughout Maine. It may be tempting to add them to your backyard, but it is not recommended. This plant spreads at a rate of a foot a year and self seeds readily. One plant can produce up to 30 flowering spikes and produce an amazing 3 million seeds each year, says NRCM.
If you enjoy the beauty of loosestrife, go ahead and have fun photographing this beauty, but resist the urge to transplant them into your backyard.
Thanks for stopping by. If you enjoy my photos and blog posts, please share them with others who may be interested, too.
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