Purple Loosestrife

I went to the garden center to buy
hibiscus & I ask if they had Yellow
or purple loosestrife & they told me
that is against the law to have it or
for them to sell it.
They said it takes over about all of
the plants in the wild because it
spreads so fast.
Has anyone heard anything about this?
they told me the state would shut them down if they found it in their garden
center.if you know anything on the laws
in your state let us hear from you.
(Rebel888) Jerry

Check out this link, scroll down to the state listing to see how it is classified by state:
http://plants.usda.gov/cgi_bin/plant_profile.cgi?symbol=LYSA2

There is also a plant called loosestrife, that is not lythrum and I think it comes in yellow. If you check out the latin name you might get the plant you want. I was floored when someone wanted Creeping Jenny -now I know what they were talking about-it is a whole different plant (weed)here.

They can still have the yellow loosestrife to sale. It is the Purple that they can't sale. Personally, I would rather see the purple loosestrife than all the native weeds. I just think they go overboard sometimes.

The problem with purple loosestrife is, although admittedly beautiful, it pushes out the natives that are used by wildlife as food plants and it has also been detrimental to some very beautiful wildflowers. It is especially fond of the edges of wet land areas and can, in extreme instances, destroy the entire ecosystem. It grows fast and multiplies by both runner and seeds and so conquers quickly.

It has, by the way, been in this country since the 1600s, brought by English colonists.

The 2004 Ethnobotanical Catalog of Seeds by J.L.Hudson, Seedsman lists this book for sale- INVASION BIOLOGY: Critique of a Pseudoscience by D. Theodoropoulos.

"Did you know that studies show that purple loosestrife does not affect species richness of native plants? Or that it supports higher bird densities than native vegetation? That salt-cedar supports native birds and insects in high numbers and at high levels of diversity, including endangered species? That the "invasive alien" hydrilla supports the highest bird species diversity in Florida, and it supports higher fish species density and many times the fish biomass than natives? That the zebra mussel increased the catch of yellow perch five-fold, and that it improves water quality? That the so-called "killer algae" reduces pollution and helps native species? that in all cases, including even oceanic islands, introduced species have increased biodiversity?"

Those are some interesting claims!!! I would be interested in reading this book.... We have been hearing the opposite of these claims for so many years, it's hard to believe differently! Since I don't agree with some of J.L.Hudson's political views expressed in the catalog, I don't plan on ordering from him, but who knows, I do agree with some and he is in the Top Twenty in the GWD...

I think I have this plant. I know it's outlawed in WI, but that's all I've heard. I bought it just recently here in VA.

I do know that the purple loosestrife is considered a noxious weed for the reasons listed above, in many states. Are you looking for gooseneck or yellow loosestrife?