Purple Ditch Flower

Purple loosestrife is a perennial plant found rooted in a range of wet soil habitats. It can grow in a couple feet of water or on dry shore near the water line. It is commonly found in roadside ditches. Plants range from two to six feet tall, with several half to one foot long flower stalks on a single plant.

What is the problem with purple loosestrife?

Purple loosestrife negatively affects both wildlife and agriculture. It displaces and replaces native flora and fauna, eliminating food, nesting and shelter for wildlife. Purple loosestrife forms a single-species stand that no bird, mammal, or fish depends upon, and germinates faster than many native wetland species.

Is purple loosestrife poisonous to humans?

Purple loosestrife is more dangerous for the environment than for humans. Some data show that it is a toxic plant with low toxicity, though it normally will not be ingested by mistake. It is harmful to the body if ingested. If discomfort occurs after ingestion, please seek medical advice.

What are the purple flowers along the highway called?

Those of us who have been commuting all year have already been admiring the beautiful purple, white and lavender coloured flowers along the highway. Sad to report that these flowers, commonly known as Dame's Rocket, are also invasive!

What are the purple flowers in farmers fields?

They're winter annuals called Henbit and Purple Deadnettle. Both are in the mint family. They grow in fields every year, but they are especially colorful in years with mild winters, when the warmer weather gives the cool season plant more time to germinate.

What does purple Deadnettle look like?

Purple dead nettle is easy to identify with its square stem (like all mint family plants), fuzzy leaves, and purple tops with little pink flowers. They are usually fairly low growing, but can sometimes reach up to 8-10 inches tall.

Should I remove purple loosestrife?

Pulling purple loosestrife is best when the infested area is small. In areas where there are few plants and easy access, manually removing the plants in recommended. Purple loosestrife can be cut or pulled without a permit in Minnesota. It is important to dispose of the plants away from the water.

Do hummingbirds like purple loosestrife?

It blooms purple pink spires of flowers from spring to frost and attracts bees, bumblebees, butterflies and hummingbirds all season. It is perennial, requires no maintenance and likes moist soil.

Should I plant purple loosestrife?

Purple loosestrife suits a naturalistic garden style. This is a moisture-loving plant that either needs a reasonable soil that doesn't dry out, shallow water at the margins of ponds, or a bog garden. Purple loosestrife grows best in full sun but flowers reasonably well in partial shade.

What are the purple flowers along Florida highways?

Coreopsis : Florida's state wildflower In 1991, the genus Coreopsis (Tickseed) was designated as Florida's Official State Wildflower in recognition of the colorful flowers used extensively in Florida's roadside plantings and highway beautification programs. See Coreopsis along Florida's roadsides.

What are freeway flowers called?

This is most commonly seen on highways in this part of the world where it is planted in the median strip, e.g., Highway I80 between Davis and Sacramento, or on the center divide of Freeport Boulevard and many other streets. It flowers profusely in the hottest part of summer and needs very little water.

What are the purple flowers on the side of the road in Iowa?

Field Thistle has large flower heads that are full of nectar and pollen. Consequently, this is very attractive to large butterflies like migrating monarchs, bees, wasps, bumblebees, and hummingbirds. This invasive purple wildflower is found in damp areas in full sun along roads and open fields in Iowa.

Is phacelia poisonous?

Warning: Some Phacelia species produce a skin irritation in sensitive people, similar to that of poison oak or poison ivy.

What are the little purple flowers in my lawn called?

In spring, wild violets produce their well-known purple (or sometimes white, bicolored or speckled) flowers, which are often mowed off.

What are the little purple flowers in the grass?

Henbit, an annual winter weed, is a member of the mint family. If you rub the stem of these purple flowers between your fingers, you will find that it has a square-shaped stem and minty smell. Left untreated and un-mowed, these weeds can grow 12 inches or taller, while producing many purple flowers.

When should you pick purple dead nettle?

Harvest the first 5-10 cm of the flowering tops in the early spring. Dead nettle is often confused with henbit (Lamium amplexicaule), another member of the Lamiaceae (mint) family that is low-growing with purple flowers; however, henbit is also edible!

What is deadnettle good for?

People take white dead nettle flower for treating mild swelling (inflammation) of the upper airways. They also take it for its calming effects (as a sedative). White dead nettle flower is sometimes applied directly to the affected area for mild inflammation of the mouth, throat, and skin; and for vaginal discharge.

Is purple nettle invasive?

Purple dead nettle is an invasive annual weed found throughout North America, though it has origins in Europe and Asia. It belongs to the mint family and has the scientific name Lamium purpureum. You might be surprised to know you can actually eat purple dead nettle, and it has sweet flowers and nutrient-rich leaves.

What animals eat purple loosestrife?

Unfortunately, there are no natural predators, specifically insects, diseases and animals which attack the purple loosestrife. This makes the plant even more prolific in our wetlands.

Do butterflies like purple loosestrife?

Many bees and butterflies use the invasive purple loosestrife as an easily available energy source. Naturalized field clovers and meadow vetches are very important nectar sources.