Wisconsin's rare plants

Scarlet loosestrife is an erect forb, 20cm-1m tall, with 1-3 small, pale lavender flowers borne in leaf axils. Its fruit capsule is occasionally dehiscent and globose. Its leaves are opposite, thick and fleshy, linear or narrowly oblong, clasping to perfoliate, and up to 10cm long and 1.5cm wide.

Scarlet loosestrife can be distinguished from Rotala species by its larger and showier fruits as well as its arrangement of flowers, which are clustered in the axils in Ammannia but solitary in Rotala.

Blooming occurs July through September, fruiting occurs mid-August through mid-October.

Annual. The optimal identification period for this species is mid-August through early-October.

Associated species include Echinochloa crus-galli, Scirpus species, Juncus species, Cyperus esculentus, Eleocharis species, and Bidens species.

Scarlet loosestrife is found near edges of ponds, in grassy swales, and similar wet places.

Avoid broadcast spraying of herbicides and use care with spot spraying.

Because this plant is an annual, work may safely be conducted before the plants emerge or after they have developed mature seeds.

Prescribed burns and/or brushing may be beneficial, dependent on local site conditions and burn frequency. Rotational burns with annual unburned refugia may be preferred.

Minimize disturbance to hydrology, including soil disturbance from rutting.

Maintain and restore open habitat through selective clearing and brushing.

Species of Greatest Conservation Need (SGCN) are associated with habitats (or natural communities) and places on the landscape. Understanding relationships among SGCN, natural communities and ecological landscapes help us make decisions about issues affecting SGCN and their habitat and how to respond. Download the Wildlife Action Plan association score spreadsheet to explore rare species, natural communities and ecological landscape associations

Conservation actions respond to issues or threats, which adversely affect species of greatest conservation need (SGCN) or their habitats. Besides actions such as restoring wetlands or planting resilient tree species in northern communities, research, surveys and monitoring are also among conservation actions described in the Wisconsin Wildlife Action Plan because lack of information can threaten our ability to successfully preserve and care for natural resources.