Seasonal Wild Flowers

American Willowherb

Epilobium ciliatum

Onagraceae

June to August

It is found throughout the country.

See the BSBI distribution map for American Willowherb

It grows on disturbed and newly dug ground such as waste land,

gardens, cleared scrub and woodland, and in cracks in walls

and pavements.

It is a neophyte, introduced from North America in the 1890s, and

known in the wild since the 1930s. It is thought to be one of the

UK's most widespread and frequent aliens.

American Willowherb is a perennial herb, growing up to 75cm.

The flowers are 4-merous, pink-purple, up to 1cm across, with

separated, lobed petals.

There are 4+4 stamens, but often only 4 are obvious.

The stigma is club-shaped and slightly longer than the stamens.

The fruits are relatively short.

Leaves are narrow and lanceolate.

Stems are reddish and downy.

Flowerheads - club-shaped stigmas

4+4 anthers

Club-shaped stigma + anthers

Fruits

Leaves

Red stem