Native Plants

Q. Who is Mr. Smarty Plants?

A: There are those who suspect Wildflower Center volunteers are the culpable and capable culprits. Yet, others think staff members play some, albeit small, role. You can torture us with your plant questions, but we will never reveal the Green Guru's secret identity.

Help us grow by giving to the Plant Database Fund or by becoming a member

Did you know you can access the Native Plant Information Network with your web-enabled smartphone?

Ask Mr. Smarty Plants

Ask Mr. Smarty Plants is a free service provided by the staff and volunteers at the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center.

Search Smarty Plants

See a list of all Smarty Plants questions

Please forgive us, but Mr. Smarty Plants has been overwhelmed by a flood of mail and must take a break for awhile to catch up. We hope to be accepting new questions again soon. Thank you!

Need help with plant identification, visit the plant identification page.

rate this answer

Not Yet Rated

Tuesday - April 28, 2009

From: Indianapolis, IN
Region: Midwest
Topic: Seed and Plant Sources
Title: Source for invasive, non-native Lythrum in Indiana
Answered by: Barbara Medford

QUESTION:

Please help me find where I can purchase Lithrum in Indiana. This is my favorite plant from long ago. I know it has been banned for the last few years. Presently you need a permit to sell Lithrum. I cannot find a nursery who sells the plant.

ANSWER:

There is one member of the Lythrum genus, Lythrum alatum (winged lythrum), that is native to Indiana. However, you may also be thinking of Lythrum salicaria, which is a non-native invasive plant. You have to realize there is probably a very good reason why this plant is forbidden to be sold in several states in North America. For some of those reasons, read this website from the Plant Conservation Alliance Alien Plant Work Group, Purple loosestrife or Lythrum salicaria. Another article on this plant is from The Master Gardeners of Adams County, PA and Frederick, MD, Lythrum, a Noxious Weed, by Mary Ann Ryan, Adams Co. Master Gardener. At the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center, we are committed to the use and propagation of plants native not only to North America but to the area in which the plant is being grown, so we would never recommend planting an invasive non-native, and no sources for it would appear on our Native Plant Suppliers lists.

Both of these articles point out that even lythrum plants advertised as "sterile" are not. The plant spreads both by prolific seeding and root extensions from which fresh suckers grow. It can easily interbreed with and take over from the native lythrum, and soon crowd out native plants and clog waterways, disturbing or destroying native habitats. Since you can never be sure what you are purchasing, we advise you not to try it at all. There are many other beautiful plants native to Indiana that belong there and will not try to take over. For instance, we went to our Recommended Species section, used Narrow Your Search to "herb" (herbaceous blooming plant) for Habit, "perennial" for Duration, and "wet or moist soil" for Soil Moisture, all characteristics of the Lythrum. You can use the same technique to search for others that you would like.

Gentiana andrewsii (closed bottle gentian) - 1 to 2 ft. tall, blooms white, blue, purple August til frost

Lobelia cardinalis (cardinalflower) - 1 to 6 ft., blooms red May til October

Lobelia siphilitica (great blue lobelia) - 2 to 3 ft., blooms blue July to October

Thalictrum dasycarpum (purple meadow-rue) - 3 to 6 ft., blooms white, yellow, green, purple March to July

Gentiana andrewsii

Lobelia cardinalis

Lobelia siphilitica