Fringed willowherb.

At a glance

Care level

Easy

Plant type

Perennial herb

Light

Full sun to partial shade

Indoor light

Bright indirect

Water

Every 2 to 5 days

Mature size

3 feet

Growth rate

Fast

Hardiness

USDA 3 to 9

Bloom time

Mid summer to early autumn

Care

Keep the soil consistently moist to mimic its natural wetland habitat. Watch for wilting if the soil dries out too much, as this plant prefers steady hydration. It is quite vigorous, so keep an eye on it to ensure it does not crowd out other plants.

Watering

Keep the soil damp but not waterlogged at all times.

Feeding

Apply a balanced liquid fertilizer during the active growing season.

Pruning

Trim back spent flower stalks to encourage tidier growth.

Repotting

Repot when the roots begin to fill the container or become root bound.

Soil

Moist, well draining soil

Soil pH

6.0 to 7.5

Temperature

-20 to 30°C

Humidity

40 to 70%

Drought tolerance

Moderate

Lifespan

Short lived perennial.

Deer and rabbits

Moderate

Safety

People

There are no known significant toxicity issues for humans.

Children

The fine, fluffy seeds can be a minor choking hazard if inhaled or ingested in large quantities.

Contact allergens

The foliage can cause mild skin irritation in sensitive individuals.

Airborne allergens

The wind dispersed seeds have fine hairs that may irritate the respiratory tract.

Edibility

This plant is not typically consumed and lacks culinary value.

How to identify it

• Opposite, lance shaped leaves
• Small pink or white flowers
• Slender, elongated seed pods
• Seeds with tufts of hair
• Stems often have fine hairs

Height

0.2 to 1m

Spread

0.15 to 0.4m

Leaves

green, reddish, deciduous

Flowers

pink, white, 0.5 to 1.5cm

Fruit

brown, Autumn

Problems to watch for

• Rust · Fungal infection causing orange spots on the underside of leaves.

Growing it

Propagation

seed

When to plant

spring, autumn

Overwintering

The plant dies back to the ground in winter. You can leave the stems for winter interest or cut them back to the base after the first hard frost.

In containers

It is not ideal for containers as it spreads rapidly and prefers open ground.

Group this plant with other moisture loving natives to create a low maintenance rain garden.

Grows well with

• Joe Pye Weed · They both thrive in similar moist soil conditions.
• Cardinal Flower · This plant provides a nice color contrast in wet garden spots.

Similar species

• Great Willowherb · It is a much larger relative with showier flowers.

Science

Family

Onagraceae

Genus

Epilobium

Order

Myrtales

Class

Magnoliopsida

Native range

North America and parts of South America.

Conservation

This species is widespread and common, so it is not of conservation concern.

It acts as a pioneer species by quickly colonizing open, moist, and disturbed habitats.

Value to wildlife

nectar source

Pollinators

bees, butterflies

Uses

wildlife garden, restoration planting

Taxonomy resolved against GBIF.

Questions people ask

Is this plant invasive?

It can be aggressive in garden settings due to prolific seed production.

Does it need a lot of water?

It prefers consistently moist soil but can handle short dry spells.

Where the name comes from

The genus name comes from Greek words meaning upon a pod, referring to the petals sitting on top of the ovary, while ciliatum refers to the fine hairs on the leaves.

Good to know

• It is often called American willowherb, and its species name ciliatum refers to the fine hairs on its leaves.
• The seeds are equipped with tufts of hair that allow them to travel long distances on the wind.
• It thrives in damp, disturbed ground like roadsides and ditches.