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Cressler, Alan

Lythrum alatum

Lythrum alatum Pursh

Winged Lythrum

Lythraceae (Loosestrife Family)

Synonym(s):

USDA Symbol: lyal4

USDA Native Status: L48 (N), CAN (N)

Found in all but about 15 states, this plant is versatile and will grow in fields, wet meadows, ditches, roadsides, pond edges, streams and garden settings.

From the Image Gallery

8 photo(s) available in the Image Gallery

Plant Characteristics

Duration: Perennial
Habit: Subshrub
Root Type: Tap
Leaf Arrangement: Alternate , Opposite
Leaf Complexity: Simple
Leaf Shape: Cordate , Lanceolate
Fruit Type: Capsule
Size Notes: Up to about 5 feet tall.
Flower: Stamens 6
Fruit: Lavender or purple

Bloom Information

Bloom Color: Pink , Purple
Bloom Time: May , Jun , Jul , Aug , Sep

Distribution

USA: AL , AR , CO , CT , DC , FL , GA , IA , IL , IN , KS , KY , LA , MA , MD , ME , MI , MN , MO , MS , MT , NC , ND , NE , NH , NJ , NY , OH , OK , PA , RI , SC , SD , TN , TX , VA , VT , WI , WV , WY
Canada: ON

Growing Conditions

Water Use: Medium
Light Requirement: Sun
Soil Moisture: Moist , Wet
Aquatic: yes
Cold Tolerant: yes
Heat Tolerant: yes
Soil Description: heavy clay, sandy loam, average garden soils.
Conditions Comments: Found in all but about 15 states, this plant is versatile and will grow in fields, wet meadows, ditches, roadsides, pond edges, streams and garden settings.

Benefit

Use Wildlife: Hummingbirds, long-tongued bees, Green Metallic bees, bee flies, butterflies, and skippers.
Conspicuous Flowers: yes
Attracts: Hummingbirds
Nectar Source: yes
Deer Resistant: Moderate

Value to Beneficial Insects

Special Value to Native Bees
Special Value to Bumble Bees
Special Value to Honey Bees

This information was provided by the Pollinator Program at The Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation.

Propagation

Propagation Material: Seeds

Find Seed or Plants

Find seed sources for this species at the Native Seed Network.

National Wetland Indicator Status

Region:	AGCP	AK	AW	CB	EMP	GP	HI	MW	NCNE	WMVE
Status:	OBL		OBL		FACW	OBL		OBL	OBL	OBL

This information is derived from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers National Wetland Plant List, Version 3.1 (Lichvar, R.W. 2013. The National Wetland Plant List: 2013 wetland ratings. Phytoneuron 2013-49: 1-241). Click here for map of regions.

From the National Organizations Directory

According to the species list provided by Affiliate Organizations, this plant is on display at the following locations:

Native Seed Network - Corvallis, OR

Bibliography

Bibref 841 - Native Alternatives to Invasive Plants (2006) Burrell, C. C.
Bibref 1294 - The Midwestern Native Garden: Native Alternatives to Nonnative Flowers and Plants An Illustrated Guide (2011) Adelman, Charlotte and Schwartz, Bernard L.

Search More Titles in Bibliography

Web Reference

Webref 38 - Flora of North America (2019) Missouri Botanical Garden, St. Louis, MO & Harvard University Herbaria, Cambridge, MA.
Webref 23 - Southwest Environmental Information Network (2009) SEINet - Arizona Chapter

Additional resources

USDA: Find Lythrum alatum in USDA Plants
FNA: Find Lythrum alatum in the Flora of North America (if available)
Google: Search Google for Lythrum alatum

Metadata

Record Modified: 2023-02-17
Research By: TWC Staff

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