Identity
Unique IDELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.136644
Element CodePDONA06060
Record TypeSPECIES
ClassificationSpecies
Classification StatusStandard
Name CategoryVascular Plant
IUCNLeast concern
Endemicoccurs (regularly, as a native taxon) in multiple nations
KingdomPlantae
PhylumAnthophyta
ClassDicotyledoneae
OrderMyrtales
FamilyOnagraceae
GenusEpilobium
Other Common NamesÉpilobe coloré (FR) purpleleaf willowherb (EN)
Concept ReferenceKartesz, J.T. 1994. A synonymized checklist of the vascular flora of the United States, Canada, and Greenland. 2nd edition. 2 vols. Timber Press, Portland, OR.
Conservation Status
Rank Method Rank calculation - Biotics v2
Review Date2025-07-22
Change Date1984-04-24
Edition Date2025-07-22
Edition AuthorsN. Ventrella (2025)
Threat ImpactUnknown
Range Extent>2,500,000 square km (greater than 1,000,000 square miles)
Number of Occurrences> 300
Rank ReasonsEpilobium coloratum is a perennial forb occurring in wet areas, seepages, swamps, lowland forests, disturbed places, and streambanks of eastern North America south through the West Indies. In North America, it is found from Ontario east to Newfoundland Island, Canada, south to Georgia and Texas in the United States. There are over a thousand estimated occurrences of this species rangewide, which are potentially threatened by development, water diversion, alteration of hydrology, erosion, succession, recreational activities, invasive species, and other threats in some places. Little is known about threats and trends, but with a large range extent, large number of occurrences, abundant habitat, and broad habitat preferences, Epilobium coloratum is considered secure.
Range Extent CommentsEpilobium coloratum occurs in eastern North America south through the West Indies (in the Dominican Republic and Haiti) (FNA 2021). In North America, it is found from Ontario east to Newfoundland Island, Canada, south to Georgia and Texas in the United States. Range extent was estimated to be over 7 million square kilometers using herbarium specimens, photo-based observations, and NatureServe Network occurrence data collected between 1994 and 2025 (GBIF 2025, iNaturalist 2025, NatureServe 2025, RARECAT 2025, SEINet 2025).
Occurrences CommentsBy applying a 1 km separation distance to herbarium specimens, photo-based observations, and NatureServe Network occurrence data documented between 1994 and 2025, it is estimated that there are over a thousand occurrences rangewide (GBIF 2025, iNaturalist 2025, NatureServe 2025, RARECAT 2025, SEINet 2025).
Threat Impact CommentsAlthough threats are not widely documented, Epilobium coloratum is potentially threatened by development, water diversion, alteration of hydrology, erosion, succession, recreational activities, invasive species, and other threats in some places. However, their overall impact is likely negligible given the species' broad range, large number of occurrences, tolerance of light disturbance, and affinity for typically abundant habitats.