Onagraceae . . . . . Willowherbs


Choose flower colour from: White,    Pink/red,   or    Yellow:



White flowers - choose nearest:


Pink/red flowers - choose nearest:


Yellow - Choose from the Oenothera spp.:

Oenothera glazoviana
Oenothera glazoviana
Oenothera stricta
Oenothera biennis
Large-fl. Evening-primrose
Large-fl. Evening-primrose
Fragrant Evening-primrose
Common Evening-primrose

Hybrids widespread and difficult to separate spp. but note reddish tinge on withering O. stricta, red bases to hairs in O. glaznoviana, while sepals tend to be green in O. cambrica


Chamaenerion (=Chamerion) . . . . Rosebay Willowherb


Chamaenerion angustifolium . . . . Rosebay Willowherb

Common, esp. on waste land

Circaea . . . . Enchanter's Nightshade


Circaea lutetiana . . . .Enchanter's Nightshade

A widely distributed woodland plant of deep shade


Epilobium . . . . Willowherbs

Choose from the following spp.:


Mountain plants
Stigma 'cross-shaped'
Stigma 'club-shaped'
The first 3 spp.

Many hybrids also occur

Epilobium alsinifolium . . . . Chickweed Willowherb

Locally frequent by mountain streams in N of Br; Slightly toothed leaves with runners below the soil surface and yellow scale leaves

Epilobium anagallidifolium . . . . Alpine Willowherb

Locally frequent by mountain streams in N of Br; runners on surface with green leaves

Locally frequent by streams in N of Br

Epilobium brunnescens . . . . New-Zealand Willowherb

Particularly common in mountains but spreading in lowland areas though not in S and E En; fruits (apparently the flower stalks) very elongated

Some other common examples of willowherbs:

Epilobium ciliatum . . . . American Willowherb

Fairly tall (up to 1 m), has bulb-shaped stigma; glandular upright hairs on stem; 4 raised ridges on stem

Epilobium hirsutum . . . . Great Willowherb or Codlins-and-cream

A large plant common by ponds and damp areas; cross-shaped stigma

Epilobium lanceolatum . . . . Spear-leaved Willowherb

Cross-shaped stigma

Epilobium montanum . . . . Broad-leaved Willowherb

Common; cross-shaped stigma; often pinkish stems

Epilobium palustre . . . . Marsh Willowherb

Bulb-shaped stigma; narrow leaves; common in wet places

Epilobium parviflorum . . . . Hoary Willowherb

Cross-shaped stigma though often looking bulb-shaped


Note that there are several other spp. including:
E. tetragonium (Square-stemmed W.) - square stems and club shaped stigma like E. ciliatum, but has stalkless parallel-sided leaves
E. obscurum (Short-fruited W.) - similar to E. tetragonum but with runners and short fruits, and
E. roseum (Pale W.) - with elliptical pointed and finely-toothed leaves, sticky hairs on capsule
plus many hybrids

Fuchsia . . . . Fuchsia


Several cultivars established, especially in W coastal areas

Fuchsia magellanica . . . . Fuchsia


Oenothera . . . . Evening-primroses


Hybrids widespread and difficult to separate spp. but note reddish tinge on withering O. stricta, red bases to hairs in O. glaznoviana, while sepals tend to be green in O. biennis. Small flowered plants in S and C En & Wa and CI with red-based hairs on stems may be separated as O. cambrica.


Oenothera biennis . . . . Common Evening-primrose

As far N as C Sc; hairs without red bulbous bases

Oenothera glazoviana . . . . Large-flowered Evening-primrose

Top of stem reddened with red bulbous-based hairs, sepals red striped, petals 35-50 mm long

Oenothera stricta . . . . Fragrant Evening-primrose

Narrow, wavy-edged leaves, no red bulbous-based hairs, sepals red-striped, flowers turning orange; sandy places CI and S Br