Northern willowherb – Epilobium ciliatum

Northern willowherb has light green, elongated, lance-shaped leaves with shallow toothed margins.

Northern willowherb – Epilobium ciliatum

Epilobium ciliatum Raf.

Onagraceae (Eveningprimrose family)

MI Status

Native

Life cycle

Erect summer annual.

Leaves

Opposite, lance-shaped to narrow oval leaves with pointed tips and shallowly toothed margins initially form leafy basal rosettes. Leaves are hairy with sunken veins and often have purple shading along the margins. Lower leaves have short stalks; upper leaves may have short stalks or are stalkless.

Stems

Hairy, rounded and erect.

Flowers and fruit

White to pink or purple flowers with four notched petals are found at the ends of long, slender capsules in the upper leaf axils. Fruit are long, slender, hairy capsules that split at maturity, releasing numerous tiny seeds. Each seed has a tuft of white hair.

Reproduction

Seeds.

Northern willowherb plant with opposite, lance shaped leaves with pointed tips. — Northern willowherb plant

Northern willowherb flowers that have pink or purple notched petals. — Northern willowherb flowers

Northern willowherb fruit that are long, slender, hairy capsules. — Northern willowherb flowers and fruit

Northern willowherb leaves that are opposite hairy with sunken veins. — Northern willowherb leaves

Northern willowherb fruit that have split releasing numerous tiny seeds each with a tuft of white hair. — Northern willowherb seeds

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