Self-Help Lake Monitoring Program Vol. Found throughout Wisconsin and spreading rapidly, purple loosestrife could continue to destroy river banks, lakeshores and wetland habitats unless we work aggressively to control it. Loosestrife, native to Europe and Asia, invades damp areas, excluding much other vegetation by shading it out. This not only poses a threat to rare and endangered plants but reduces overall diversity of plants and wildlife that depend upon native plants for food and shelter. Some species, such as marsh wrens and least bitterns, completely vacate a loosestrife infested wetland.
Seeds primarily cause the spread of loosestrife.
Many seeds fall near parent plants, but water, animals, boats, construction equipment and people all contribute to transporting seeds greater distances. A loosestrife invasion can be deceiving. The presence of a few plants over time may not seem to be a problem. It sometimes takes years for a seed bank to be established. Suddenly, a rapid growth spurt can occur and seemingly invade an entire wetland over a short period of time.