Northern Willow Herb

(Epilobium ciliatum)

Northern Willow Herb (Epilobium ciliatum Raf.)

Identification: Flowers small (less than 0.25 inches in width), white or pink, with 4 petals. Petals deeply notched. Stigma entire, not divided into 4 parts. Flowers on medium to long flower stalks, but not nodding (hanging downward). Flowers arising from the leaf axils. Seedpods narrow and elongate, pointing upward, with whitish hairs. Leaves alternate, but usually so close together to appear nearly opposite. Leaves elongate, narrow, broader in the middle, with finely toothed outer margins. Plant 1 to 3 feet in height.

Distribution: Northern Canada southward in the west to Wisconsin and Michigan and in the east to North Carolina and Tennessee. Also occurs through central and western North America.

Habitat: Northern Willow Herb is found in a variety of wet habitats including wet meadows and along the shores of rivers and lakes.

Flowering period: July to September.

Similar Species: Purple-leaved Willow Herb has purple tinted stems and leaves commonly blotched with purple. The leaves are slightly broader and not has heavily toothed sometimes appear to be in opposite pairs rather than alternate. The leaves of both Narrow-leaved Willow Herb and Downy Willow Herb are very narrow and lack teeth along the outer margin.