Photo: Ivar Leidus, CC BY-SA 3.0 · source
Pruning guide · Perennial
Purple loosestrife: when and how to prune
Lythrum salicaria
Purple loosestrife is best pruned in February.
| Pruning months | February |
|---|---|
| Flowering | June–September |
| Good for bees, butterflies and birds | Yes, for bees and butterflies |
| Native to Belgium | Yes |
Purple loosestrife: when to prune it?
At the end of February, just before the new shoots appear. Leave the stems standing all winter.
What else to prune in those months? February
Purple loosestrife: how to prune it?
- Cut all old stems down to just above the ground.
- Leave them until then: hollow stems shelter overwintering insects.
- If you do not want seedlings, cut off the faded spikes in September.
- Broken or diseased stems can simply be cut off at the base in summer.
How much to cut, and how often?
- One pruning period a year: February.
What does it mean for wildlife?
- Purple loosestrife flowers in June–September, when it attracts bees and butterflies.
- If you only cut back in February, the old stems stand through the winter: insects overwinter in them and birds eat the seeds.
- As a native plant, it feeds more insects than a non-native species.
Caution: It self-seeds in wet soil. Cut the spikes off in time if you do not want that, and weed out seedlings while they are small.
Nearby: related pruning guides
Plant profile: Purple loosestrife · Pruning calendar and basic rules
This guide is compiled from the Bladwijzer plant profile and pruning calendar.