Great Willowherb

The height of Great Willowherb is as distinctive as the hairiness of its stem and leaves. It sometimes goes by the name of ‘Hairy Willowherb’ due to this and it is also the source of its Latin name hirsutum, meaning hairy or shaggy. The upright stems bear solitary purple-pink flowers with cream centres. Lance-shaped leaves sit opposite each other on the stems.

It grows on damp ground, such as wet grasslands, ditches, marshes, by the edge of rivers and in woodland clearings.

The purple-pink flowers appear from June through to August. The plant’s seeds are plumed and are dispersed by the wind, but the plant also spreads by fleshy stems just below ground.

Great Willowherb is the largest natural Willowherb found in Britain.

Very common in England, Wales and south and east Scotland.