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Great Willowherb

©Neil Wyatt

Great willowherb

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Scientific name: Epilobium hirsutum
A tall and hairy plant, Great willowherb displays pretty pink-and-cream flowers. It can be found in damp places, such as wet grasslands, ditches and riversides.

Top facts

Stats

Height: up to 2m

Conservation status

Common.

When to see

July to August

About

Great willowherb is a large herb that flourishes on damp ground, such as wet grasslands, ditches, riversides and woodland clearings. Deep pink flowers appear on the top of hairy stems from July to August and its fluffy seeds are dispersed by the wind.

What to look for

Great willowherb is a tall plant that is covered in soft, downy hair. Its small, purple-pink flowers have creamy centres, and the lance-shaped leaves sit opposite each other on the stems.

Where to find

Found throughout the UK, but less common in Scotland.

Habitats

Did you know?

Great willowherb is also sometimes known as 'Codlins-and-cream'. Codlins are actually cooking apples, so this name may well have arisen from the rosy pink flowers with their creamy centres. Other names, such as 'Apple-pie' and 'Cherry-pie', seem to follow the same idea.