Purple loosestrife, a beautiful but aggressive invader, arrived in eastern North America in the early 1800's. It is a very hardy perennial which can rapidly degrade wetlands. Purple loosestrife grows to 6 feet with multiple woody stalks. Leaves are typically opposite, lance-shaped, and are 3 to 4 inches long. Each plant can produce millions of seeds annually.
Seeds can remain dormant for several years.
Parrotfeather is a perennial, native to South America. It has become naturalized across many areas of the United States. It is usually found rooted in shallow areas up to 3 feet in depth. Underwater stems often appear red or orange. Above water stems and leaves are gray-green in color.