# 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. - **Category:** [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/plant) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Snaps:** 4 - **Habitat:** Wetlands ![fringed willowherb](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/%28MHNT%29_Epilobium_ciliatum_-_flowers.jpg&width=800) Photo: Didier Descouens, CC BY-SA 4.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:%28MHNT%29_Epilobium_ciliatum_-_flowers.jpg) ## 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. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Plantae - **Phylum:** Tracheophyta - **Class:** Magnoliopsida - **Order:** Myrtales - **Family:** Onagraceae - **Genus:** Epilobium ## 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 - **Wind-Riding Seeds:** Fringed willowherb has seeds with a fluffy 'parachute' that helps them float on the wind to spread far and wide. - **Quick Colonizer:** This plant can rapidly grow in disturbed soil, helping it quickly take over bare ground after disruptions. - **Underground Spreader:** 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](https://www.snappit.app/explore/black-slug) (*Arion ater*) — grazes on the leaves and young shoots. ## Traits - [Deciduous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/deciduous): Deciduous plants periodically shed all their leaves, typically during autumn or dry seasons. - [Flowering](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/flowering): Flowering plants are any plants that produce flowers as part of their reproductive cycle. - [Summer Blooming](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/summer-blooming): Summer blooming plants produce their flowers during the summer season, often providing vibrant color when many other plants have finished. - [Pollinator Magnet](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/pollinator-magnet): Describes plants that are particularly attractive and beneficial to a wide range of pollinating organisms. - [Rapid Growing](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/rapid-growing): Rapid growing plants exhibit accelerated growth rates, quickly increasing in size and biomass within a short period. - [Wetland](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/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. ## Collections - [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/plants) ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low Always look but don't touch flowers without asking an adult first. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify fringed willowherb? Start with the whole plant, then compare leaf arrangement, leaf edges, stems and any flowers or fruit. Opposite leaves grow in pairs; alternate leaves come one at a time along the stem. These details tell you far more together than a single green leaf does. Plant Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How tall is fringed willowherb? 10-150 cm ### How wide does fringed willowherb spread? 20-60 cm ### How big are the flowers on fringed willowherb? 0.5-1 cm ### When does fringed willowherb bloom? Summer-fall ### Is fringed willowherb edible? Yes ### Is fringed willowherb toxic? None ### What is fringed willowherb's lifecycle? Perennial ## Where to spot - [Forts Baker, Barry, and Cronkhite](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/forts-baker-barry-and-cronkhite) — California, US · Historic District - [Bellport Village Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/bellport-village-historic-district) — New York, US · Historic District - [Conservatory of Flowers](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/conservatory-of-flowers) — California, US · Botanical Garden - [Palace of Fine Arts](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/palace-of-fine-arts) — California, US · Historic District - [Sherman Library and Gardens](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/sherman-library-and-gardens) — California, US · Botanical Garden - [Gene Coulon Memorial Beach Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/gene-coulon-memorial-beach-park) — Washington, US · Park [View all places to see fringed willowherb](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/fringed-willowherb) ## More Plants - [white snakeroot](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-snakeroot) (*Ageratina altissima*) - [tree-of-heaven](https://www.snappit.app/explore/tree-of-heaven) (*Ailanthus altissima*) - [western sword fern](https://www.snappit.app/explore/western-sword-fern) (*Polystichum munitum*) - [common milkweed](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-milkweed) (*Asclepias syriaca*) --- Source: [Fringed Willowherb: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/fringed-willowherb)