This tall perennial wildflower's natural habitat is tall fens, reeds swamps, and as marginal vegetation around rivers, lakes and ponds.
Producing dense forms of bright purple spikes it is a fantastic wildlife plant as the flowers are rich in pollen and nectar attracting bees, butterflies and moths. 
 
POLLINATORS : Red-tailed bumblebees, Elephant hawk-moths and Brimstone butterflies.
 
WILDLIFE: Its rich source of pollen and nectar is a valuable food source not only for pollinators but for many insects including long-tongued insects such as Brimstone butterflies.