Great Willowherb
Epilobium hirsutum
Also listed as Chamaenerion hirsutum, Chamaenerion grandiflorum
Also known as Great Hairy Willowherb, Hairy Willowherb, Codlins-and-cream
Climate Match for your location
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Great Willowherb is a tall, vigorous perennial with hairy stems and lance-shaped leaves, producing spikes of magenta-pink flowers throughout summer. It thrives in wet areas and is commonly found along streams and ditches.
Why grow it
Great Willowherb is a tall, vigorous perennial suited to wet sites where many ornamental willowherbs may struggle with moisture or competition. It produces abundant magenta-pink flower spikes over a long summer season, offering nectar and pollen for pollinators in riparian or rain garden settings. Compared to shorter willowherb species, its height (typically 3-4 feet) makes it useful as a background planting in constructed wetlands or streamside restoration, though its vigor requires space to avoid crowding slower-growing neighbors.
Watch out for
This plant spreads readily by seed and rhizomes in ideal conditions; deadheading spent flowers and monitoring expansion will help prevent unwanted spread into adjacent garden beds. In consistently moist soils it may self-seed prolifically, requiring regular removal of seedlings if containment is a goal.
Overview
- Form
- Growth Rate
- Size
- Dormancy
- Family
- Onagraceae
Native Range
Europe and western Asia
Seasonality
Bloom Season
Harvest Season
Edible Parts
Season of Interest
Herb
Soft non-woody plants of the field layer.
Succession Role
Tolerances & Soil
Establishment & Care
- Establishment
- Maintenance
- Propagation
Great Willowherb is a tall, vigorous perennial with hairy stems and lance-shaped leaves, producing spikes of magenta-pink flowers throughout summer. It thrives in wet areas and is commonly found along streams and ditches.
Climate Match for your location
See how well Great Willowherb grows in your area.
Enter your ZIP code and we'll show you how this plant fits your local climate.
Why grow it
Great Willowherb is a tall, vigorous perennial suited to wet sites where many ornamental willowherbs may struggle with moisture or competition. It produces abundant magenta-pink flower spikes over a long summer season, offering nectar and pollen for pollinators in riparian or rain garden settings. Compared to shorter willowherb species, its height (typically 3-4 feet) makes it useful as a background planting in constructed wetlands or streamside restoration, though its vigor requires space to avoid crowding slower-growing neighbors.
Watch out for
This plant spreads readily by seed and rhizomes in ideal conditions; deadheading spent flowers and monitoring expansion will help prevent unwanted spread into adjacent garden beds. In consistently moist soils it may self-seed prolifically, requiring regular removal of seedlings if containment is a goal.
Overview
- Form
- Growth Rate
- Size
- Dormancy
- Family
- Onagraceae
Native Range
Europe and western Asia
Seasonality
Bloom Season
Harvest Season
Edible Parts
Season of Interest
Herb
Soft non-woody plants of the field layer.
Succession Role
Tolerances & Soil
Establishment & Care
- Establishment
- Maintenance
- Propagation
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