Broad-leaved Willowherb - Epilobium montanum
Short to medium plant with a rounded stem. Leaves all opposite, the upper alternate, oval, usually toothed, and very short stalked. Flowers purplish pink, 6 to 12 mm, in lax racemes, the petals notched. Stigma four lobed.
A species on the VC55 Rare Plant Register, E lanceolatum, also has 4-lobed stigma and is similar, but with narrow leaves gradually narrowing to the petiole. Epilobium commonly hybridise, and specimens that do not meet all the characteristic of E montanum may be hybrids.
Photos showing 4-lobed stigma and leaf-shape are needed
Waste places, pathways and cultivated ground.
May to August.
Perennial.
Common and widespread throughout Britain.
Common in Leicestershire and Rutland. In the 1979 Flora survey of Leicestershire it was found in 431 of the 617 tetrads.
Graham Calow
Sapcote
06 June 2006
Graham Calow
Higham on the Hill
11 June 2015
four lobed stigma
David Nicholls
Burroughs Road, Ratby
18 August 2012
David Nicholls
New Lount
09 June 2011
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Species profile
- Common names
- Broad-leaved Willowherb
- Species group:
- Wildflowers
- Kingdom:
- Plantae
- Order:
- Myrtales
- Family:
- Onagraceae
- Records on NatureSpot:
- 128
- First record:
- 11/05/1992 (John Mousley;Steve Grover)
- Last record:
- 14/06/2025 (Higgott, Mike)
Total records by month
% of records within its species group
10km squares with records
The latest images and records displayed below include those awaiting verification checks so we cannot guarantee that every identification is correct. Once accepted, the record displays a green tick.
In the Latest Records section, click on the header to sort A-Z, and again to sort Z-A. Use the header boxes to filter the list.
Latest images
Latest records
Graham Calow
Frolesworth
15 June 2015
Graham Calow
Frolesworth
15 June 2015
Graham Calow
Frolesworth Churchyard
10 June 2015
Graham Calow
Frolesworth Churchyard
10 June 2015
David Nicholls
Ulverscroft
21 June 2014
David Nicholls
Ulverscroft
21 June 2014
David Nicholls
Martinshaw Wood
05 July 2012
Peter Smith
Cropston garden
24 June 2012
David Nicholls
New Lount
09 June 2011
Ron.stevens
Broughton Astley
26 June 2011
David Nicholls
New Lount
09 June 2011
Ron.stevens
Broughton Astley
26 June 2011
Graham Calow
Higham on the Hill
11 June 2015 All Saints Church Yard Sapcote SP 4882 9320 (taken 6.6.2006)...JPG)
Graham Calow
All Saints Chuch, Sapcote
06 June 2006
Peter Smith
Cropston garden
24 June 2012
David Nicholls
Martinshaw Wood
05 July 2012
Alan Semper
Harby garden
01 July 2012
Alan Semper
Harby garden
01 July 2012
 All Saints Church Yard Sapcote SP 4882 9320 (taken 6.6.2006)...JPG)
Aphis epilobii
The aphid Aphis epilobii feeds on Broad-leaved Willowherb or more rarely other Willowherb species. Adult apterae of Aphis epilobii are dark blackish-green to reddish-brown, but often appear dark-grey to pinkish-brown because of a rather uniform powdering of wax. The alate has marginal postsiphuncular and small marginal sclerites, but no dorsal cross bands in front of the siphunculi.
Willowherb Rust
The rust causes galls on the leaves of Willowherbs (Epilobium species) and the whole plant appears paler than usual, with curled leaves. There is no host alternation. Raised yellowish blotches bear orange aecia, usually on underside of leaf; brown uredinia and telia are present later.