# Great Willowherb (*Epilobium hirsutum*)

The Great Willowherb is a tall flower with beautiful pink-purple blooms. It loves to grow in wet places like riverbanks and marshes, making it a lovely sight in nature!

- **Category:** [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/plant)
- **Rarity:** Common
- **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low
- **Habitat:** Wetlands

![Great Willowherb](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Dettaglio_-_Onagrarieae_Epilobium_hirsutum_Lin._Erbario_Frizzi_Perugia_n._1179.jpg&width=800)

Photo: Giuseppe Frizzi, Public domain · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Dettaglio_-_Onagrarieae_Epilobium_hirsutum_Lin._Erbario_Frizzi_Perugia_n._1179.jpg)

## Appearance

The Great Willowherb is a tall plant, recognized by its fuzzy stems and large, showy pink to magenta flowers with four notched petals. Its slightly toothed, hairy leaves grow opposite each other, making it stand out in damp environments.

## Taxonomy

- **Kingdom:** Plantae
- **Phylum:** Tracheophyta
- **Class:** Magnoliopsida
- **Order:** Myrtales
- **Family:** Onagraceae
- **Genus:** Epilobium

## Interesting facts

- Its scientific name, Epilobium, means 'flower on a pod.'
- Its seeds wear a fluffy white coat, like tiny parachutes!
- The stems can grow taller than a small child, up to 2 meters!
- You can find Great Willowherb growing right by rivers and ponds.

## Special abilities

- **Seed Sailor:** Great Willowherb has super fluffy seeds that catch the wind, helping them travel far and wide to new places.
- **Rhizome Runner:** This plant uses underground stems called rhizomes to quickly spread and form dense patches.
- **Pollinator Party Host:** Its bright, nectar-rich flowers are a beacon for buzzing bees and fluttering butterflies.

## Measurements & details

- **Height:** 50-200 cm
- **Spread:** 50-100 cm
- **Flower Size:** 2-3 cm
- **Bloom Season:** Summer (June-September)
- **Edible:** Yes
- **Toxicity:** None
- **Lifecycle:** Perennial
- **Pollination Method:** Insect

## Ecological connections

- **Pollinates:** European honey bee (*Apis mellifera*) — Honey bees collect nectar from its abundant flowers.
- **Pollinates:** Buff-tailed bumblebee (*Bombus terrestris*) — Bumblebees are frequent visitors, gathering nectar and pollen.
- **Pollinates:** [Red Admiral](https://www.snappit.app/explore/red-admiral) (*Vanessa atalanta*) — Butterflies feed on nectar, helping to spread pollen.
- **Parasitizes:** Willowherb leaf miner fly (*Phytomyza epilobii*) — Its larvae create tunnels by feeding inside the plant's leaves.

## Traits

- [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.
- [Fragrant Flower](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/fragrant-flower): Fragrant flowers emit a pleasant aroma, often to attract pollinators or for defense.
- [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 unless a grown-up says it's okay.

## Frequently Asked Questions

### How to identify Great 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 Great Willowherb?

50-200 cm

### How wide does Great Willowherb spread?

50-100 cm

### How big are the flowers on Great Willowherb?

2-3 cm

### When does Great Willowherb bloom?

Summer (June-September)

### Is Great Willowherb edible?

Yes

### Is Great Willowherb toxic?

None

### What is Great Willowherb's lifecycle?

Perennial

## 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: [Great Willowherb: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/great-willowherb)