My variety of Purple Loosetrife grows 4' tall in my garden.  It blooms heavily in July, and then puts out another flush of flowers in August.  It used to be the best butterfly-attracting plant in my garden, but is rarely visited by butterflies anymore.  Japanese Beetles used to be a problem for this plant, eating the flower petals.  I haven't had many of them since buying a Japanese Beetle trap, which only has to be used about once every three or four years to keep them under control.

I purchased my Purple Loosestrife plants at a local nursery.  They were all labeled "Morden's Pink," but only one was pink.  The reason I wanted Morden's Pink was because it is a sterile variety, producing no seeds.  Purple Loosestrife is said to reseed itself so profusely that many people consider it a weed.  After growing the plants for a couple of years, I was certain the purple ones were sterile as well.  I still have no idea what variety they are.  My pink plant never produced many flowers, and eventually got sent to the compost pile.

Purple Loosetrife is a politically incorrect plant.  It is banned in most states - even the sterile varieties.  It is a non-native plant which has escaped cultivation, and is now growing in wetlands in many parts of the country.  The Environmental Protection Agency has made this plant enemy number one, and has embarked on a mission to eradicate it.  They have made a major error in the way they are attempting to eliminate Purple Loosestrife, and may be harming the environment in the process.  They have imported two species of beetle, one that eats the flowers, and one that feeds on the roots.  If successful, these beetles will eventually wind up in my garden.  They may be feeding on the roots as I speak, because they have been released in a swamp about 20 miles from here.  Who can predict what other plants these beetles will begin feeding on once their preferred Purple Loosestrife is in short supply?  As far as I'm concerned, there are better ways of eliminating Purple Loosestrife from our wetland areas.  One way is to use volunteers or prison crews to pull the plants by hand.  Of course, that would have to be done on an annual basis for complete control.  It's too late for any alternatives now, the beetles are here to stay (and I don't mean John, Paul, George and Ringo).