Pocket BotanistGuide botanique
Great Willowherb.
Epilobium hirsutum
Prononciation eh-pi-LOH-bee-um HER-soo-tum
Aussi appelée Codlins And Cream, Great Hairy Willowherb, Great Willowherb, hairy willowherb
The Great Willowherb is a vigorous perennial often found near water. It produces tall, hairy stems topped with vibrant pink flowers. It is a fantastic choice for naturalizing in damp areas of your garden.
En un coup d'œil
- Care level
- Easy
- Plant type
- Perennial
- Light
- Full sun to partial shade
- Indoor light
- bright-indirect
- Water
- Every 1 to 3 days
- Mature size
- Up to 150 cm tall
- Growth rate
- fast
- Hardiness
- USDA 4 to 9
- Bloom time
- Mid summer to early autumn
Entretien
Keep the soil consistently moist as this plant thrives in wet conditions. Watch for aphids during the growing season and prune back dead stems in late autumn. It spreads readily, so consider its location carefully to prevent it from taking over.
- Watering
- Keep the soil constantly damp, never allowing it to dry out completely.
- Feeding
- Apply a balanced liquid fertilizer once during the spring if the soil is poor.
- Pruning
- Cut the plant back to the ground in late autumn after the foliage dies off.
- Repotting
- Repot only if the plant becomes root bound in a container.
- Soil
- Moist, heavy, or boggy soil
- Soil pH
- Neutral to slightly alkaline
- Temperature
- -20 to 30°C
- Humidity
- 60 to 90%
- Drought tolerance
- low
- Lifespan
- Perennial, typically 5 to 10 years.
- Deer and rabbits
- moderate
Signes qu'il faut rempoter
- Roots growing out of the drainage holes.
- Water sitting on the surface of the soil for too long.
- The plant stops growing despite regular watering.
Sécurité
- People
- It is not considered toxic to humans.
- Pets
- This plant is not known to be toxic to cats or dogs.
- Children
- The fine hairs on the plant can be irritating if handled, so it is best to keep small children from playing with the foliage.
- Contact allergens
- The fine hairs on the stems and leaves may cause mild skin irritation in sensitive individuals.
- Airborne allergens
- The wind dispersed seeds have fine, silky tufts that can be a minor respiratory irritant if inhaled in large quantities.
- Edibility
- While young shoots are sometimes consumed, they can be tough and lack significant culinary value.
Comment l'identifier
- Tall, hairy, branched stems
- Opposite, lance shaped, serrated leaves
- Large, four petaled pink flowers
- Long, slender, pod like seed capsules
- Height
- 0.8 to 1.5m
- Spread
- 0.45 to 0.9m
- Leaves
- green, deciduous
- Flowers
- pink, magenta, 2 to 3cm
Problèmes courants
- Rust fungus — Appears as orange or brown pustules on the undersides of leaves during humid weather.
- Aphids — Small insects that cluster on new growth and suck plant sap.
La cultiver
- Propagation
- division, seed, cuttings
- When to plant
- spring, autumn
- Overwintering
- The foliage dies back to the ground in winter. You can cut the dead stems down to the base in late autumn or early spring.
- In containers
- It is not recommended for containers because it spreads aggressively and requires constant moisture.
Rhizome Division
- 1. Dig up a section of the root mass in early spring.
- 2. Use a sharp spade to divide the rhizomes into smaller pieces.
- 3. Replant the divisions immediately into moist soil.
Plant it in contained areas or large sites where its aggressive spreading habit will not overwhelm smaller, delicate species.
Bonnes associations
- Purple Loosestrife — They share similar moisture requirements in wetland settings.
- Meadowsweet — This plant provides a nice textural contrast in damp meadow plantings.
À éloigner de
- Native wetland grasses — It can easily outcompete and crowd out slower growing native grasses.
Espèces similaires
- Fireweed — It has similar flower shapes but lacks the hairy foliage and prefers drier soil.
Science
- Family
- Onagraceae
- Genus
- Epilobium
- Order
- Myrtales
- Class
- Magnoliopsida
- Native range
- Europe, Asia, and parts of North Africa.
- Conservation
- It is not of conservation concern and is considered an invasive weed in many parts of North America.
It colonizes damp ground and disturbed wetlands by spreading rapidly through its extensive root system.
- Value to wildlife
- nectar source, larval host plant
- Pollinators
- bees, moths, butterflies
- Uses
- wetland restoration, pollinator gardens, wildlife habitat
Au fil des saisons
Repères écologiques
- Salinity
- 2/9
- Soil reaction
- 6/9
- Light
- 7/9
- Temperature
- 5/9
- Moisture
- 8/9
- Nutrients
- 6/9
Taxonomie vérifiée avec le GBIF.
Ce qu'on demande souvent
- Is it invasive?
- Yes, it is considered highly invasive in many wetland areas outside its native range.
- Does it need a lot of water?
- It thrives in very moist to wet soil and is often found near streams or ponds.
D'où vient le nom
The name Epilobium comes from Greek words meaning upon a pod, referring to the flower position on the seed capsule. Hirsutum refers to the hairy texture of the leaves and stems.
Bon à savoir
- It spreads aggressively through both seeds and underground rhizomes.
- The plant is highly adaptable to various water levels.
- It is a member of the evening primrose family.
Ton great willowherb a mauvaise mine ?
Cette page est un guide général. Pocket Botanist diagnostique les problèmes directement à partir d'une photo de ta plante, adapte l'arrosage à sa luminosité et te prévient quand il faut t'en occuper.
Ce guide a été généré par IA et vérifié avec la taxonomie du GBIF. Il s'agit d'informations générales, et non de conseils horticoles ou vétérinaires. Découvre comment nous concevons ces guides.