Does it need a lot of water?

Yes, it requires consistently moist to saturated soil to thrive.

Can I grow it in a regular garden bed?

Only if you have a very damp spot or a bog garden, as it will wilt quickly in dry soil.

Plant guide

Marsh willowherb.

Epilobium palustre

Pronounced eh-pih-LO-bee-um pal-US-tree

Also known as Marsh Willow-herb, Marsh Willowherb

This charming plant loves to hang out in damp, boggy areas. It produces lovely, delicate flowers that bring a touch of the wild to wet garden spots. You will find it is quite happy when its roots stay consistently moist.

At a glance

Care level: Moderate
Plant type: Perennial herb
Light: Full sun to partial shade
Indoor light: Bright indirect
Water: Every 1 to 3 days
Mature size: 8 to 24 inches
Growth rate: Medium
Hardiness: USDA 2 to 8
Bloom time: Mid to late summer

Care

Keep the soil consistently damp to mimic its natural marshy home. Watch for wilting, which is a clear sign that the plant is drying out too much. Ensure it gets plenty of light to keep it from getting leggy.

Watering: Keep the soil constantly moist and never let it dry out completely.
Feeding: Use a balanced liquid fertilizer sparingly during the growing season.
Pruning: Trim back spent flower stalks to encourage a tidy appearance.
Repotting: Repot in early spring if the plant becomes root bound in its container.
Soil: Wet, boggy, or moisture retentive soil
Soil pH: Acidic to neutral
Temperature: -45 to 25°C
Humidity: 60 to 95%

Safety

People: There are no reports of significant toxicity in humans.
Children: The plant is not known to be dangerous to children, but always supervise them around wild plants.
Edibility: This plant is not considered edible and should be avoided.

How to identify it

Opposite lance shaped leaves
Small pink or white flowers
Slender stems with fine hairs
Long narrow seed pods
Grows in wetland habitats

Height: 0.2 to 0.6m
Spread: 0.15 to 0.3m
Leaves: green, deciduous
Flowers: pink, white, 0.5 to 1cm

Problems to watch for

Rust · Fungal infections can cause orange spots on the leaves during humid spells.

By symptom

Plant problems by symptom

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Growing it

Propagation: seed, division
When to plant: spring, autumn

Group this plant with other moisture loving species to create a self sustaining bog garden.

Grows well with

Marsh Marigold · They both thrive in the same wet, boggy conditions.
Soft Rush · This provides a nice structural contrast in a wetland planting.

Similar species

Fireweed · It is a much larger relative that also produces wind dispersed seeds.

Science

Family: Onagraceae
Genus: Epilobium
Order: Myrtales
Class: Magnoliopsida
Native range: Circumboreal, found across northern North America, Europe, and Asia.
Conservation: It is widespread across the northern hemisphere and not currently of conservation concern.

It survives by colonizing wet, open habitats where it can spread through its shallow root system.

Value to wildlife: nectar source
Pollinators: bees, butterflies
Uses: wetland restoration, bog garden plant

Through the year

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Flowering

Fruiting

Foliage

Ecological indicators

Salinity: 1/9
Soil reaction: 3/9
Light: 7/9
Temperature: 3/9
Moisture: 9/9
Nutrients: 4/9

Taxonomy resolved against GBIF.

Questions people ask

Does it need a lot of water?: Yes, it requires consistently moist to saturated soil to thrive.
Can I grow it in a regular garden bed?: Only if you have a very damp spot or a bog garden, as it will wilt quickly in dry soil.

Where the name comes from

The name Epilobium comes from Greek words meaning upon the pod, referring to the flower parts sitting on top of the ovary. Palustre is Latin for of the marsh.

Good to know

It is commonly called the marsh willowherb because of its preference for soggy soil.
The seeds have tufts of hair that help them travel long distances on the wind.
It thrives in acidic, peaty soils where many other plants struggle.

Keep your marsh willowherb growing

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This guide was generated with AI on October 19, 2026 and checked against GBIF taxonomy. It is general information, not horticultural or veterinary advice. Read about how we build these guides.