Irish wildflowers BSBI map

Great Willowherb, Epilobium hirsutum, Saileachán mór
Photographs: Mallow, Co. Cork

Great Willowherb
Epilobium hirsutum
Saileachán mór
Family: Onagraceae

Flowering time: June-September. Perennial. Native.

Deep purple-pink flowers (2cm diameter) with a 4-lobed stigma and notched petals. Stalkless leaves are lanceolate and mostly opposite on stout erect stems. The whole plant is downy-hairy. Height 80-150cm.

Frequent throughout most of Ireland on damp waste ground, river banks and roadsides and in ditches. Occasionally found on drier ground.

Similar: Hoary Willowherb, Epilobium parviflorum is only 20-80cm tall with smaller flowers.

Great Willowherb, Epilobium hirsutum, Saileachán mór

Great Willowherb, Epilobium hirsutum, Saileachán mór
Great Willowherb, Epilobium hirsutum, Saileachán mór

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