The majority of wild infestations of purple loosestrife are the result of garden escapes. Back to top. Each purple loosestrife plant is capable of producing an enormous number of seeds, up to three million every year. The seeds are small, light and are easily dispersed by the wind, which carries them great distances. In addition, loosestrife seeds have high viability, almost 100 per cent germination rate and remain viable after many years in the soil or submerged under water.
Purple loosestrife can also spread vegetatively, by pieces of the stems or roots.
Garden varieties of loosestrife can also exchange pollen with other loosestrife cultivars and wild populations. Flowers are commonly pollinated by bees, which encourage pollen flow between gardens and wild populations. Garden seeds can be transported by animals, on clothing or vehicles and rainfall carries them into river systems and wetlands through storm water run-off. Back to top. A monotypic stand of Purple Loosestrife.