It was introduced into the east coast of North America in the 1800s. It first spread along roads, canals and drainage ditches, then later was distributed as an ornamental. This exotic plant is found in at least 40 states.
Purple loosestrife is an attractive plant.
It is vigorous and durable. We plant it once and it seems to last forever. Without pests to attack it, purple loosestrife can take over wet areas such as lake shores, streambanks, and marshes, crowding out native plants and reducing habitat diversity. It can seriously impact a wetland area in just a few seasons. Each mature plant produces over a million seeds and can resprout from a small part of a root or stem.