Purple loosestrife is a problem because it negatively affects wildlife and agriculture. Purple loosestrife displaces and replaces native flora and fauna, eliminating food and shelter for wildlife. By reducing habitat size, purple loosestrife has a negative impact on fish spawning and waterfowl habitats. The plant also diminishes wetland recreational capability. Purple loosestrife affects agriculture by blocking flow in drainage and irrigation ditches and decreasing crop yield and quality.
Purple loosestrife is a problem throughout North America.
The northeastern United States and southeastern Canada are the areas experiencing the greatest impact of purple loosestrife. The distribution of this plant ranges from being common to abundant, and many areas have been found to support dense stands of this invasive plant. Purple loosestrife occurs in lower densities across virtually the entire United States and southern portion of Canada. These methods will not completely eliminate purple loosestrife, but they will control the populations within ecologically acceptable limits. It involves physically removing the plants from the soil at the root.