fringed willowherb

Epilobium ciliatum

Fringed willowherb is a pretty flower with soft, pink petals that bloom in summer. It loves to grow near water and can often be seen in meadows and along streams.

Habitat: Wetlands

Appearance

The fringed willowherb has slender, upright stems topped with small, pinkish-purple flowers, each featuring four deeply notched petals. Its lance-shaped leaves are often hairy along their edges, giving a slightly 'fringed' appearance.

KingdomPlantaePhylumTracheophytaClassMagnoliopsidaOrderMyrtalesFamilyOnagraceaeGenusEpilobium

fringed willowherb

Interesting facts

Its long, slender seed pods split open to release hundreds of tiny, parachute-like seeds!

The young leaves and shoots are edible, tasting a bit like mild spinach or lettuce!

This plant is often one of the very first to grow in recently cleared or disturbed areas!

You can sometimes find it growing right out of cracks in pavements or even walls!

Special abilities

Fringed willowherb has seeds with a fluffy 'parachute' that helps them float on the wind to spread far and wide.

This plant can rapidly grow in disturbed soil, helping it quickly take over bare ground after disruptions.

Fringed willowherb can also spread using underground stems, helping it form dense patches and persist.

Measurements & details

Height: 10-150 cm
Spread: 20-60 cm
Flower Size: 0.5-1 cm
Bloom Season: Summer-fall
Edible: Yes
Toxicity: None
Lifecycle: Perennial
Pollination Method: Insect

Ecological connections

pollinates

Honeybee

Apis mellifera

collects nectar and pollen from flowers.

pollinates

Common eastern bumblebee

Bombus impatiens

feeds on nectar and pollen, aiding reproduction.

eaten by

Black slug

Arion ater

grazes on the leaves and young shoots.

Traits

Deciduous

Deciduous plants periodically shed all their leaves, typically during autumn or dry seasons.

Flowering

Flowering plants are any plants that produce flowers as part of their reproductive cycle.

Summer Blooming

Summer blooming plants produce their flowers during the summer season, often providing vibrant color when many other plants have finished.

Pollinator Magnet

Describes plants that are particularly attractive and beneficial to a wide range of pollinating organisms.

Rapid Growing

Rapid growing plants exhibit accelerated growth rates, quickly increasing in size and biomass within a short period.

Wetland

This habitat trait identifies species found in wetlands, which are areas of land saturated with water, either permanently or seasonally, including marshes, swamps, and bogs.