The plant has woody roots that form a dense mat, making it difficult to pull out. The plant resprouts if the entire root is not removed. Purple loosestrife is most easily identified during the blooming season, from June through early September. The flowers have five to six petals, are colored purple to magenta and vertically arranged on long spikes. It usually grows on moist or saturated soils.
Older plants can form large masses of showy blossoms and look quite striking.
In the fall, the leaves turn bright red for about 10 days, then turn brown and die back until the next growing season. Leaves, about two to four inches long near the base of the plant, are opposite to each other on the four to six-sided stem. Leaves are long and narrow, with smooth edges. A four to five-year old plant can have as many as 30 to 50 stems, grow up to 10 feet tall and five feet wide. Get rid of it, recommended Aldrich-Markham.