Practical
Plants

Epilobium angustifolium

Willow Herb

a perennial member of the Epilobium genus in the family Onagraceae.

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Taxonomy and growth

Life cycle
perennial
Growth rate
vigorous
Height
2 m
Spread
1 m
Fertility
Bees
Flower type
hermaphrodite
Pollinators
Bees

Uses

Toxicity

Toxicity warning. The historical record reports a hazard for this plant. Do not use it to decide which parts are safe to eat or use medicinally.

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

An infusion of the leaves is said to stupefy a person[22].

Edible uses

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Leaves and young shoot tips - raw or cooked[13][23][5][24][8][9]. They can be used in salads or cooked as a vegetable[28]. When boiled they make a wholesome vegetable and are a good source of vitamins A and C[13][21]. Only use the leaves when they are young[27]. Although they are said to be edible, another report says that an infusion of them can stupefy[22]. Young shoots - cooked. They make a good asparagus substitute[13][28][9][16]. Root - raw, cooked or dried and ground into a powder[26][8]. Used in spring, it has a sweet taste[5][26]. Flower stalks - raw or cooked[27][2][8][9]. Added to salads, they are used when the flowers are in bud[9]. The pith of young or older stems - raw or cooked[24][30][9]. Slightly sweet, tender and pleasing to eat, though there is not much of it[27][8]. Gelatinous[7], it can be used as a flavouring in soups[9]. The stems are said to be a good laxative, but are best not eaten on an empty stomach[20]. A tea is made from the dried leaves[28][24][27][29][9], it is sweet and pleasant[8]. Called 'kaporie' tea in Russia, it contains 10% tannin[17]. The leaves are also used as an adulterant of China tea[13].

Plant part
Flowers
Plant part
Leaves
Plant part
Root
Plant part
Stem
Product or use
Tea

Medicinal uses

Historical medicinal uses. These records describe reported uses. They do not establish safety or effectiveness. Ask a qualified health professional before using any plant medicinally.

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

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 and tonic[22][25][8][12]. It is used in the treatment of diarrhoea, mucous colitis and irritable bowel syndrome[19]. The plant is used in Germany and Austria to treat prostate problems[19]. A poultice of the leaves is applied to mouth ulcers[17]. An extract of the leaves has anti-inflammatory activity[17]. An ointment made from the leaves has been used to soothe skin problems in children[19]. A tea made from the leaves and roots is a folk remedy for dysentery and abdominal cramps[17]. A poultice made from the peeled roots is applied to burns, skin sores, swellings, boils etc[17][21].

Product or use
Antiinflammatory
Product or use
Antispasmodic
Product or use
Astringent
Product or use
Demulcent
Product or use
Emollient
Product or use
Hypnotic
Product or use
Laxative
Product or use
Poultice
Product or use
Tonic

Material uses

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

A fibre obtained from the outer stems is used to make cordage[30][15][20]. The 'cottony' seed hairs are used as a stuffing material[30][4] or as a tinder[2][8]. The powdered inner cortex is applied to the hands and face to give protection from the cold[30][8][21].

Product or use
Fibre
Product or use
Stuffing
Product or use
Tinder
Product or use
Weather protection

Environment

Range
Europe, including Britain, temperate Asia and N. America.
Habitat
Rocky ground, waste areas, woodland edges and gardens[25][6].
Light
full sun
Shade tolerance
light shade
Water
moderate
Hardiness
Zone 3+
Soil textures
sandy, loamy, clay
Soil pH
acid, neutral, alkaline
Drainage
well drained
Tolerates Nutritionally Poor Soil
No
Drought
intolerant

Propagation

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Seed - sow early spring in situ or as soon as the seed is ripe[3]. 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.

Cultivation

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

An easily grown plant, it prefers a well-drained but moisture retentive soil in a sunny position[14], though it succeeds in most soils[1]. It prefers a moist soil[3], but also succeeds on dry banks[11]. It is best grown in open woodland[1]. Plants are hardy to at least -20°c[10]. The rosebay willowherb spreads vigorously by means of a creeping rhizome, and often forms large patches[10]. 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[1][14]. A very ornamental plant[1], it is the floral emblem of the Yukon[8]. A food plant for the caterpillars of several lepidoptera species[18], it is also a good bee plant[26][29].

References

  1. F. Chittendon. RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956 Oxford University Press 1951-00-00

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4

  2. Coon. N. The Dictionary of Useful Plants. Rodale Press 1975-00-00 ISBN 0-87857-090-x

    ↩1↩2

  3. Sanders. T. W. Popular Hardy Perennials. Collingridge 1926-00-00

    ↩1↩2

  4. Gunther. E. Ethnobotany of Western Washington. University of Washington Press 1981-00-00 ISBN 0-295-95258-X

    ↩

  5. Loewenfeld. C. and Back. P. Britain's Wild Larder. David and Charles ISBN 0-7153-7971-2

    ↩1↩2

  6. Triska. Dr. Hamlyn Encyclopaedia of Plants. Hamlyn 1975-00-00 ISBN 0-600-33545-3

    ↩

  7. Yanovsky. E. Food Plants of the N. American Indians. Publication no. 237. U.S. Depf of Agriculture.

    ↩

  8. Schofield. J. J. Discovering Wild Plants - Alaska, W. Canada and the Northwest.

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4↩5↩6↩7↩8↩9

  9. Facciola. S. Cornucopia - A Source Book of Edible Plants. Kampong Publications 1990-00-00 ISBN 0-9628087-0-9

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4↩5↩6↩7

  10. Phillips. R. & Rix. M. Perennials Volumes 1 and 2. Pan Books 1991-00-00 ISBN 0-330-30936-9

    ↩1↩2

  11. Brickell. C. The RHS Gardener's Encyclopedia of Plants and Flowers Dorling Kindersley Publishers Ltd. 1990-00-00 ISBN 0-86318-386-7

    ↩

  12. Emboden. W. Narcotic Plants Studio Vista 1979-00-00 ISBN 0-289-70864-8

    ↩

  13. Hedrick. U. P. Sturtevant's Edible Plants of the World. Dover Publications 1972-00-00 ISBN 0-486-20459-6

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4

  14. Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press 1992-00-00 ISBN 0-333-47494-5

    ↩1↩2

  15. Coffey. T. The History and Folklore of North American Wild Flowers. Facts on File. 1993-00-00 ISBN 0-8160-2624-6

    ↩

  16. Weiner. M. A. Earth Medicine, Earth Food. Ballantine Books 1980-00-00 ISBN 0-449-90589-6

    ↩

  17. Foster. S. & Duke. J. A. A Field Guide to Medicinal Plants. Eastern and Central N. America. Houghton Mifflin Co. 1990-00-00 ISBN 0395467225

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4↩5

  18. Baines. C. Making a Wildlife Garden.

    ↩

  19. Chevallier. A. The Encyclopedia of Medicinal Plants Dorling Kindersley. London 1996-00-00 ISBN 9-780751-303148

    ↩1↩2↩3

  20. Turner. N. J. Food Plants of Coastal First Peoples UBC Press. Vancouver. 1995-00-00 ISBN 0-7748-0533-1

    ↩1↩2

  21. Moerman. D. Native American Ethnobotany Timber Press. Oregon. 1998-00-00 ISBN 0-88192-453-9

    ↩1↩2↩3

  22. Grieve. A Modern Herbal. Penguin 1984-00-00 ISBN 0-14-046-440-9

    ↩1↩2↩3

  23. Mabey. R. Food for Free. Collins 1974-00-00 ISBN 0-00-219060-5

    ↩

  24. Elias. T. and Dykeman. P. A Field Guide to N. American Edible Wild Plants. Van Nostrand Reinhold 1982-00-00 ISBN 0442222009

    ↩1↩2↩3

  25. Chiej. R. Encyclopaedia of Medicinal Plants. MacDonald 1984-00-00 ISBN 0-356-10541-5

    ↩1↩2

  26. Komarov. V. L. Flora of the USSR. Israel Program for Scientific Translation 1968-00-00

    ↩1↩2↩3

  27. Harrington. H. D. Edible Native Plants of the Rocky Mountains. University of New Mexico Press 1967-00-00 ISBN 0-8623-0343-9

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4

  28. Launert. E. Edible and Medicinal Plants. Hamlyn 1981-00-00 ISBN 0-600-37216-2

    ↩1↩2↩3

  29. Sweet. M. Common Edible and Useful Plants of the West. Naturegraph Co. 1962-00-00 ISBN 0-911010-54-8

    ↩1↩2

  30. Turner. N. J. Plants in British Columbian Indian Technology. British Columbia Provincial Museum 1979-00-00 ISBN 0-7718-8117-7

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4

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