Chamaenerion angustifolium
Rose bay willowherb, Fireweed willow herb
Also known as Epilobium angustifolium, Chamerion angustifolium
- Height × spread
- 2.5m × 0.5m
- Position
- Full sun
- Hardiness
- Colder than -20C (RHS H7)
- Flowers
- Summer
Availability
Please ask in store about availability
Many plants are seasonal. Call 01234 567890 to check current stock.
About this plant
A tall plant, appearing stately when in flower with its long slender flowering spike that holds magenta flowers, and once the flowers have dropped, the reddish angled spikes remain. The leaves are slender and lance-shaped, with a red midrib. This plant is found in waste places, often appearing where trees have been felled or land cleared or on railway embankments. They form great swathes of brilliant colour, dispensing plumed seeds to the air. The plant is exceptionally invasive and is unsuited to the garden. It provides food for bees and insects and in Russia 'Kaporie tea' is brewed from the plant. (This plant is not to be confused with the Greater willow herb, Epilobium hirsutum.)
- Flower colour
- Red
- Foliage colour
- Green
- Variegated
- No
- Scent
- No
- Shape
- Column
- Height
- 2.5m
- Spread
- 0.5m
- Season of interest
- Summer
- Flowers in
- Summer
- Evergreen
- Deciduous
- Garden style
- Prairie garden
- Sun or shade
- Likes full sun, tolerates part shade
- Soil type
- Chalk, Loam (normal)
- Soil pH
- All types
- Drainage
- Moisture retentive soil, Well drained soil
- Hardiness
- Colder than -20C (RHS H7)
- Borders & containers
- Borders
- Use for
- Bee attraction, Butterfly attraction
- Hazards
- No
Spring
Spring-Autumn · Outdoors
Water to keep the soil moist
For best results, this plant needs soil that is always moist. Water deeply and regularly as soon as soil appears dry. Even for established plants in the ground, a dry week can cause problems with some soils. Check plants in pots more often, especially in hot weather. Or install an automatic irrigation system which will do the hard work for you, even when you are away on holiday.
Without regular watering some plants never fully regain their beauty.
Spring-Autumn · Planting
Trim dead flowers to prevent self-seeding
Note on self-seeding: If you do not want this plant to set seed it is necessary to promptly remove the spent flowers as they fade.
It's possible to carefully remove the seed heads, complete with seed, and then place them in areas where you would like new seedlings to grow.