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Weed Identification in Nurseries and Landscapes

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Northern willowherb - Epilobium ciliatum Raf.
Weed Identification in Nurseries and Landscapes > Northern willowherb
Northern willowherb flower Northern willowherb flowering stem
Northern willowher flowering stem. Northern willowherb flower.
Northern willowherb plant
Northern willowherb plant.
Life cycle: Erect summer annual.

Leaves: Opposite, lance-shaped to narrow oval leaves with pointed tips and shallowly toothed margins initially form leafy basal rosettes. Leaves are hairy with sunken veins and often have purple shading along the margins. Lower leaves have short stalks; upper leaves may have short stalks or are stalkless.

Stems: Hairy, rounded and erect.

Flowers and fruit: White to pink or purple flowers with four notched petals are found at the ends of long, slender capsules in the upper leaf axils. Fruit are long, slender, hairy capsules that split at maturity, releasing numerous tiny seeds. Each seed has a tuft of white hair.

Reproduction: Seeds.
Northern willowherb seeds
Mature capsule and seeds of northern willowherb.
The MSU IPM Program maintains this site as an access point to pest management information at MSU. The IPM Program is administered within the Department of Entomology, fueled by research from the Michigan Agricultural Experiment Station, delivered to citizens through MSU Extension, and proud to be a part of Project GREEEN.
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Updated: 10/18/07