Calflora
Taxon  Report   5258    
Lythrum californicum  Torr. & A. Gray
California loosestrife,  Common loosestrife
Lythrum californicum
© 2017 David Wolfson
Photos from
CalPhotos / Calflora
Lythrum californicum
© 2017 Fred Melgert / Carla Hoegen
Lythrum californicum
© 2007 Ron Wolf
Lythrum californicum, a dicot, is a perennial herb that is native to California, is also found outside of California, but is confined to western North America.

Interactive Distribution Map


Observation Hotline
(observation details)



point, line, or polygon

Plant Characteristics
and Associations


Bloom Period
Lythrum californicum
© 2010 Steve Matson
Family: LYTHRACEAE  
Genus: Lythrum
Communities: Yellow Pine Forest, Foothill Woodland, Chaparral, Valley Grassland, (many plant communities), wetland-riparian

Wetlands: Occurs in wetlands

Name Status:
Accepted by JEF + PLANTS

Alternate Names:
ICPN: Lythrum sanfordii
More information about  Lythrum californicum
Nursery / seed vendor availability from CNPLX
Commercial availability unknown.
Landscaping information from Calscape
Photos on PlantID.net   /   Google Images
Jepson eFlora

Records from the Consortium of California Herbaria

ITIS Original Publication citation

USDA PLANTS Profile (LYCA4)

Search the International Plants Names Index

Search efloras.org (Flora of North America)

website references from Google


Suggested Citation
Calflora: Information on California plants for education, research and conservation, with data contributed by public and private institutions and individuals, including the Consortium of California Herbaria. [web application]. 2019. Berkeley, California: The Calflora Database [a non-profit organization]. Available: https://www.calflora.org/   (Accessed: Jan 19, 2019).