Common Name: Willow Herb

General Information

Epilobium angustifolium is an erect, herbaceous perennial plant with long, horizontally spreading rhizomes; it forms large clumps of usually unbranched stems usually around 30 - 180cm tall, occasionally reaching 270cm[, ].
The plant is harvested from the wild for local use as a food, medicine and source of materials. An excellent pioneer species, it is also occasionally grown as an ornamental, but is apt to spread and become a bothersome weed[].

Known Hazards

An infusion of the leaves is said to stupefy a person[].

Botanical References

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Range

Widespread throughout temperate regions of Eurasia; N. Africa (Morocco); Northern N.America (Nunavut, Greenland), scattered further south

Habitat

Rocky ground, scree slopes, waste areas, woodland edges, clearings, disturbed ground and gardens; at elevations up to 3,200 metres[, , ].

Properties

Edibility Rating
Medicinal Rating
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Perennial
Height	1.00 m
Growth Rate	Fast
Pollinators	Bees, Flies, Insects
Cultivation Status	Wild

Cultivation Details

Epilobium angustifolium is widespread through the temperate zones of northern latitudes and tolerates a broad spectrum of climatic conditions. A very cold-tolerant plant, when fully dormant it can withstand temperatures down to about -30°c[, ].
An easily grown plant, it prefers a well-drained but moisture retentive soil in a sunny position[], though it succeeds in most soils that are not waterlogged[, ]. It prefers a moist soil[], but also succeeds on dry banks[]. It is best grown in open woodland[].
The rosebay willowherb spreads vigorously by means of a creeping rhizome, and often forms large patches[]. It is apt to become a weed especially through its seed which is very light and capable of travelling long distances in the wind. It is often one of the first plants to colonize disturbed areas such as scenes of fires[, ].
A very ornamental plant[], it is the floral emblem of the Yukon[].

Edible Uses

Leaves and young shoot tips - raw or cooked[, , , , , ]. They can be used in salads or cooked as a vegetable[]. When boiled they make a wholesome vegetable and are a good source of vitamins A and C[, ]. Only use the leaves when they are young[]. Although they are said to be edible, another report says that an infusion of them can stupefy[].

Young shoots - cooked. They make a good asparagus substitute[, , , ].
The pith of young or older stems - raw or cooked[, , , ]. Slightly sweet, tender and pleasing to eat, though there is not much of it[, ]. Gelatinous[], it can be used as a flavouring in soups[]. The stems are said to be a good laxative, but are best not eaten on an empty stomach[].

Root - raw, cooked or dried and ground into a powder[, ]. Used in spring, it has a sweet taste[, ].

Flower stalks - raw or cooked[, , , ]. Added to salads, they are used when the flowers are in bud[].

A tea is made from the dried leaves[, , , , ], it is sweet and pleasant[]. Called 'kaporie' tea in Russia, it contains 10% tannin[]. The leaves are also used as an adulterant of China tea[].

Medicinal

Willow herb is often used as a domestic herbal remedy, though it is little used in conventional herbalism.

The herb is antispasmodic, astringent, demulcent, emollient, hypnotic, laxative, stomachic and tonic[, , , ]. It is used in the treatment of stomach ache, intestinal discomfort, diarrhoea, mucous colitis and irritable bowel syndrome[, ]. The plant is used in Germany and Austria to treat prostate problems[].
An extract of the leaves has anti-inflammatory activity[].
A poultice of the leaves is applied to mouth ulcers[]. An ointment made from the leaves has been used to soothe skin problems in children[].

A tea made from the leaves and roots is a folk remedy for dysentery and abdominal cramps[].

A poultice made from the peeled roots is applied to burns, skin sores, swellings, boils etc[, ].

Agroforestry Uses:

The plant is a natural pioneer of disturbed ground and shows great potential for use in forest reclamation since it is capable of germinating and growing on reclaimed soils. It is effective in taking up nutrients from the soil, promoting nutrient capture, accumulation, and likely nutrient cycling on newly reclaimed sites. Its extensive root system allows it to persist for many years after the woodland has developed and the plant is no longer able to regenerate by seed. In the artic, the plant is a dominant natural colonizer of oil spill sites and has been found on acidic coal spoils, mine wastes, and along road cuts[].
A food plant for the caterpillars of several lepidoptera species[], it is also an excellent producer of nectar for bees[, , ].

Other Uses

A fibre obtained from the outer stems is used to make cordage[, , ].
The 'cottony' seed hairs are used as a stuffing material[, ] or as a tinder[, ].

The powdered inner cortex is applied to the hands and face to give protection from the cold[, , ].

Propagation

Seed - surface sow early spring in situ or as soon as the seed is ripe[]. This plant is more than capable of finding its own way into most gardens and does not usually require an invitation.
Division in spring or autumn. Very easy, larger clumps can be replanted direct into their permanent positions, though it is best to pot up smaller clumps and grow them on in a cold frame until they are rooting well. Plant them out in the spring.