Rose bay, Fireweed, Willow Herb, Great willowherb, French willow
Epilobium angustifolium

Family: Onagraceae

What it is like

It is a herb. It keeps growing from year to year. It grows up to 1.8-2.1 m but is smaller in colder regions. The stems are willowy. The leaves are narrow and arranged alternately. They are dark green above and paler underneath. The flowers are pink or purple and in racemes. The fruit are long narrow capsules. They contain many seeds and each seed has a tuft of hairs.

There are about 165 Epilobium species. They are mostly temperate.

Where it is found

It is a temperate plant. It commonly grows after fire. It grows around wetlands and marshes. It grows in temperate and Arctic regions. It is resistant to frost but damaged by drought. It suits hardiness zones 3-9.

Countries/locations it is found in

Alaska, Asia, Australia, Balkans, Belarus, Bosnia, Britain, Canada, Caucasus, China, Czech Republic, Estonia, Europe, Finland, Georgia, Germany, Iceland, India, Ireland, Korea, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Mongolia, North America, Norway, Pakistan, Poland, Russia, Scandinavia, Slovenia, Sweden, Turkey, Türkiye, Ukraine, USA

How it is used for food

A flour is made from the roots and used to make flat cakes. The vigorous young shoots are cooked and eaten with butter as an asparagus substitute. The leaves are eaten raw or boiled. They are also dried and used for tea. Young flower stalks are added to salads. The pith of the large stalks is chewed. It is also used to flavour and thicken soups and stews or made into ale or vinegar.

It is a famine food.

Edible parts

Flowers, leaves, leaves - tea, root, stem, shoots

How it is grown

Plants can be grown from seeds or cuttings. The plant can be cut back and will sprout up again.

Its other names

Local names

Almaruat, Ciilqaarat, Geitrams, Gaurometis, Ivan-caj, Ivan-chai, Iwan-czaj, Kaporuski, Kiprei, Koporka, Koporskii chai, Rosebay willowherb, Ts'ayxlhp, Vrbolika

Synonyms

Chamænerion angustifolium (L.) Scopli.; Epilobium spicatum Lam.; Chamerion angustifolium (L.) Holub.; and several others