This Beautiful Plant Around Michigan Is Actually Invasive

Last year, I wrote about two plants that are very common around Michigan, the Henbit and Purple Deadnettle, that, despite their appealing appearance, were not actually flowers; they were weeds. It was a pretty shocking discovery for someone who had swathes of these growing up across the street as a kid.

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Now, I'm back once more to inform you of another beautiful purple plant that has a similar "looks can be deceiving" effect on our state. However, the difference is that while Henbit and Purple Deadnettle are harmless, Purple Loosestrife is an invasive species that spreads at an alarming rate.

Pretty But Invasive: The Purple Loosestrife

According to the State of Michigan, the Purple Loosestrife is a perennial herb with a "woody, square stem covered in downy hair". These plants are common around wetlands and along roadsides.

READ MORE: 4 Invasive Fish That Could Devastate the Great Lakes

Besides its purple flowers, the best way to identify these plants, as outlined in the video below by the Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department, is by their leaves and stems. The leaves are long and sit opposite each other, usually in pairs, attached at the stem.

How To Combat These Plants

The reason these plants are a problem in the areas they develop is that they reproduce so quickly, wiping out native plants. These plants have wood stems and can grow anywhere between 4 and 10 feet tall, taking up precious space in otherwise habitable areas.

Planting native plants like Milkweed, which are highly beneficial to butterflies, is a great way to help combat the decline of native plants due to the Purple Loosestrife. This plant can produce "millions of seeds annually", so it's important to keep Michigan's wildlife diverse. Pulling out plants at the root and tampering down the soil.