Seasonal Wild Flowers

Great Willowherb

Epilobium hirsutum

Onagraceae

Great Hairy Willowherb, Codlins and Cream

June to September

It is found throughout the country.

See the BSBI distribution map for Great Willowherb

It grows on open waste ground, in damp woodland

clearings and edges and by fresh water streams,

ditches, marshes, ponds and canals.

Great Willowherb is a native, rhizomatous, perennial herb

growing up to 2m.

Its rhizomes enable it to form dense stands.

Flowers are up to 23mm across, purple pink in colour,

with a 4-lobed white stigma and white stamens.

The outer stamens are longer than thre inner and the

anthers darken on ripening.

The leaves are lanceolate and hairy.

The stem, flower stalks and seed pods are also hairy.

Great Willowherb stand

Flowerhead

4-lobed stigma

Unusual 5-lobed stigma

Stigma and young anthers

Hairy seed capsules

Leaves