Epilobium ciliatum

Raf.

Hairy Willowherb

G5Secure Found in 201 roadless areas NatureServe Explorer →
G5SecureGlobal Rank
Least concernIUCN
UnknownThreat Impact
Identity
Unique IDELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.152732
Element CodePDONA06040
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 Names
Épilobe cilié (FR) Fringed Willowherb (EN) fringed willowherb (EN) Northern Willowherb (EN)
Concept Reference
Kartesz, 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 Date2025-07-21
Change Date1984-04-24
Edition Date2025-07-21
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 Reasons
Epilobium ciliatum is a perennial forb occurring in riparian areas, bogs, seeps, wet places, montane and subalpine habitats, disturbed sites, and along coasts worldwide, from North, Central, South America, and East Asia, and as an introduced species in Europe, western Russia, and the Pacific Islands. There are several hundred estimated occurrences of this taxon rangewide, which are threatened by land-use conversion, habitat fragmentation, sedimentation, forest management practices, succession, invasive species, development, logging, deer herbivory, trampling by livestock, rights-of-way construction and maintenance, and likely other threats in some places. Little is known about trends, but with a large range extent, high number of occurrences, abundant habitat, broad habitat preferences, preference for disturbance, and no obvious intrinsic vulnerabilities, Epilobium ciliatum is considered secure.
Range Extent Comments
Epilobium ciliatum is a globally widespread species. It's native range includes North, Central, South America, and East Asia, and its introduced range includes Europe, western Russia, and the Pacific Islands (FNA 2021). In North America, it is found throughout all of Canada, most of the United States (except for several states in the southeast), and Mexico (FNA 2021, Weakley and the Southeastern Flora Team 2025). The native range extent was estimated to be over 80 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). See individual entries for distribution details about the three subspecies.
Occurrences Comments
By 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 several hundred occurrences in its native range (GBIF 2025, iNaturalist 2025, NatureServe 2025, RARECAT 2025, SEINet 2025).
Threat Impact Comments
In the Southeastern United States, Epilobium ciliatum is considered highly threatened by land-use conversion, habitat fragmentation, sedimentation, and forest management practices (Southern Appalachian Species Viability Project 2002). Additional threats include succession, invasive species, development, logging, deer herbivory, trampling by livestock, rights-of-way construction and maintenance, and likely other threats in some places (NatureServe 2025). There is insufficient data, including anecdotal accounts, to understand scope and severity of threats for this taxon.
Ecology & Habitat

Habitat

Epilobium ciliatum occurs on damp banks of streams and lakes, bogs, seeps, wet meadows, montane and subalpine habitats, disturbed, open, mesic areas, roadsides, ditches, coastal bluffs, and open places along the coast from 0-4200 m in elevation (FNA 2021, Weakley and the Southeastern Flora Team 2025).

Reproduction

Epilobium ciliatum produces flowers from May through November (FNA 2021). Seeds are light, have plumes, and are widely dispersed by wind (Native Plant Trust 2025).
Terrestrial Habitats
Forest EdgeGrassland/herbaceousAlpineCliff
Palustrine Habitats
FORESTED WETLANDRiparian
Other Nations (2)
United StatesN5
ProvinceRankNative
New JerseySNRYes
IndianaSUYes
NevadaSNRYes
IowaS4Yes
VirginiaS2Yes
ColoradoS4Yes
OklahomaS1Yes
MassachusettsSNRYes
HawaiiSNANo
VermontS5Yes
AlaskaSNRYes
New HampshireSNRYes
UtahSNRYes
WisconsinSNRYes
MontanaS4Yes
IdahoSNRYes
WyomingS5Yes
New MexicoSNRYes
MarylandS3Yes
OregonSNRYes
MinnesotaSNRYes
MaineS4Yes
DelawareSUYes
KentuckySNRYes
TexasSNRYes
KansasSNRYes
IllinoisSNRYes
MichiganSNRYes
South DakotaSNRYes
PennsylvaniaS5Yes
OhioSNRYes
North CarolinaS2Yes
South CarolinaSNRYes
NebraskaSNRYes
West VirginiaS4Yes
ArizonaSNRYes
WashingtonSNRYes
New YorkS5Yes
Rhode IslandSNRYes
TennesseeS1Yes
ConnecticutSUYes
CaliforniaSNRYes
North DakotaSNRYes
CanadaN5
ProvinceRankNative
Prince Edward IslandS5Yes
QuebecSNRYes
SaskatchewanS4Yes
ManitobaS5Yes
Northwest TerritoriesS4Yes
British ColumbiaS5Yes
OntarioS5Yes
Nova ScotiaS5Yes
New BrunswickS5Yes
NunavutS2Yes
LabradorS5Yes
Yukon TerritoryS4Yes
AlbertaS5Yes
Island of NewfoundlandS5Yes
Threat Assessments

Plant Characteristics
DurationPERENNIAL
Economic Value (Genus)No
Roadless Areas (201)
Alaska (46)
AreaForestAcres
Behm IslandsTongass National Forest4,777
Bering LakeChugach National Forest965,076
ChichagofTongass National Forest555,858
Chilkat-West Lynn CanalTongass National Forest199,772
Chugach-12Chugach National Forest8,116
Chugach-13Chugach National Forest13,337
College FiordChugach National Forest1,130,818
Copper River WetlandsChugach National Forest85,972
Douglas IslandTongass National Forest28,065
DukeTongass National Forest45,091
EudoraTongass National Forest195,022
Fidalgo-GravinaChugach National Forest257,968
Freshwater BayTongass National Forest44,933
Game CreekTongass National Forest54,469
GravinaTongass National Forest37,381
Green RocksTongass National Forest11,093
Johnson PassChugach National Forest152,508
Juneau UrbanTongass National Forest101,581
Juneau-Skagway IcefieldTongass National Forest1,187,268
KartaTongass National Forest52,117
KekuTongass National Forest10,869
Kenai LakeChugach National Forest213,172
Kenai MountainsChugach National Forest306,600
MadanTongass National Forest68,553
Mansfield PeninsulaTongass National Forest54,991
Nellie JuanChugach National Forest713,697
North BaranofTongass National Forest314,089
North RevillaTongass National Forest215,430
North WrangellTongass National Forest8,091
Port AlexanderTongass National Forest120,681
RedoubtTongass National Forest68,347
ResurrectionChugach National Forest224,615
RevillaTongass National Forest29,298
RhineTongass National Forest23,010
Roaded DonutChugach National Forest968
Sheridan GlacierChugach National Forest224,683
Sitka UrbanTongass National Forest112,003
South KruzofTongass National Forest55,193
South RevillaTongass National Forest52,105
Taku-SnettishamTongass National Forest664,928
Tenakee RidgeTongass National Forest20,527
Thorne RiverTongass National Forest72,983
TwelvemileTongass National Forest37,940
Upper SitukTongass National Forest16,789
Windham-Port HoughtonTongass National Forest161,952
Yakutat ForelandsTongass National Forest323,648
Arizona (6)
AreaForestAcres
Black CanyonPrescott National Forest10,683
Campbell BlueApache-Sitgreaves National Forests7,003
CenterfireApache-Sitgreaves National Forests13,130
Happy ValleyCoronado National Forest7,972
Lower RinconCoronado National Forest3,278
Lower San FranciscoApache-Sitgreaves National Forests59,310
California (66)
AreaForestAcres
Arroyo SecoAngeles National Forest4,703
Black ButteMendocino National Forest15,461
Black CanyonInyo National Forest32,421
Black Mtn.Sequoia National Forest15,102
Boundary Peak (CA)Inyo National Forest210,884
Caples CreekEldorado National Forest17,854
Carson - IcebergStanislaus National Forest56,430
Castle PeakTahoe National Forest14,974
ChicoSequoia National Forest39,836
City CreekSan Bernardino National Forest9,997
ColdwaterCleveland National Forest8,402
Coyote NorthInyo National Forest11,932
Coyote SoutheastInyo National Forest53,159
Cucamonga AAngeles National Forest1,249
Cucamonga BSan Bernardino National Forest11,933
Cutca ValleyCleveland National Forest14,530
DardanellesEldorado National Forest8,110
Devil's Gate (CA)Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest9,946
Dinkey LakesSierra National Forest34,171
DomeStanislaus National Forest11,085
Domeland Add.Sequoia National Forest3,046
EagleStanislaus National Forest16,116
East YubaTahoe National Forest17,968
Fish CanyonAngeles National Forest29,886
GrindstoneMendocino National Forest26,031
Hall Natural AreaInyo National Forest5,236
Hoover - Mt.olsenHumboldt-Toiyabe National Forest624
Hoover - Virginia LksHumboldt-Toiyabe National Forest5,050
Horse Creek RidgeSan Bernardino National Forest8,969
KangarooKlamath National Forest40,617
Kings RiverSierra National Forest52,999
LaddCleveland National Forest5,300
Lake EleanorShasta-Trinity National Forest397
LavasModoc National Forest25,864
Log Cabin SaddlebagInyo National Forest15,165
Magic MountainAngeles National Forest15,542
Middle YubaTahoe National Forest7,379
MosesSequoia National Forest22,077
Mt. JacksonHumboldt-Toiyabe National Forest20,721
Mt. EddyShasta-Trinity National Forest7,232
Mt. OlsenInyo National Forest2,161
Mt. RebaStanislaus National Forest3,869
Nevahbe RidgeInyo National Forest302
NightStanislaus National Forest3,173
Orleans Mtn. CSix Rivers National Forest15,589
PaiuteInyo National Forest58,712
Pleasant ViewAngeles National Forest26,395
Raymond PeakStanislaus National Forest3,646
Raywood Flat BSan Bernardino National Forest11,373
RinconSequoia National Forest54,610
San Gabriel AddAngeles National Forest2,527
San SevaineSan Bernardino National Forest6,866
Sheep MountainAngeles National Forest21,098
Sill HillCleveland National Forest5,294
Silver HillHumboldt-Toiyabe National Forest4,423
Slate Mtn.Sequoia National Forest12,299
Soldier CanyonInyo National Forest40,589
Strawberry PeakAngeles National Forest7,245
SugarloafSan Bernardino National Forest8,206
Tragedy - Elephants BackEldorado National Forest20,866
TuleAngeles National Forest9,861
WaterhouseStanislaus National Forest4,394
West GirardShasta-Trinity National Forest37,516
WestforkAngeles National Forest4,407
Wonoga Pk.Inyo National Forest11,272
WoodpeckerSequoia National Forest11,936
Idaho (3)
AreaForestAcres
Pioneer MountainsSawtooth National Forest119,563
Pioneer MountainsSalmon-Challis National Forest172,460
West Meadow CreekNez Perce-Clearwater National Forest115,949
Montana (4)
AreaForestAcres
Burnt MountainCuster National Forest10,698
Crazy MountainGallatin National Forest82,093
North AbsarokaCuster National Forest21,063
Red Lodge Creek HellroaringCuster National Forest17,210
Nevada (12)
AreaForestAcres
Alta T - East BHumboldt-Toiyabe National Forest21,732
Aurora CraterHumboldt-Toiyabe National Forest5,689
Boundary Peak (NV)Inyo National Forest21,851
Chineese Camp (NV)Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest15,207
Pearl PeakHumboldt-Toiyabe National Forest71,405
Pine Grove SouthHumboldt-Toiyabe National Forest88,945
Rose - GalenaHumboldt-Toiyabe National Forest3,711
Rough CreekHumboldt-Toiyabe National Forest8,476
Ruby - Lamoille CynHumboldt-Toiyabe National Forest32,771
South SchellHumboldt-Toiyabe National Forest125,614
Spanish PeakHumboldt-Toiyabe National Forest31,520
Table Mtn. - EastHumboldt-Toiyabe National Forest87,789
New Hampshire (1)
AreaForestAcres
Carr MountainWhite Mountain National Forest17,110
New Mexico (7)
AreaForestAcres
Bull CanyonCarson National Forest11,512
Canjilon Mtn.Carson National Forest7,972
Devils CreekGila National Forest89,916
Lower San FranciscoGila National Forest26,460
NolanGila National Forest13,051
PecosCarson National Forest13,436
Sawyers PeakGila National Forest59,743
Oregon (18)
AreaForestAcres
Bend WatershedDeschutes National Forest14,829
Bulldog RockUmpqua National Forest6,056
Hebo 1aSiuslaw National Forest13,930
LakeMt. Hood National Forest1,327
Lake ForkWallowa-Whitman National Forest21,936
LarchMt. Hood National Forest12,961
Lord Flat Somers PointWallowa-Whitman National Forest67,738
Mt. BaileyUmpqua National Forest18,401
Mt. Hood AdditionsMt. Hood National Forest13,061
North KalmiopsisSiskiyou National Forests91,560
ReservoirWallowa-Whitman National Forest13,641
SherwoodUmpqua National Forest2,449
Snake RiverWallowa-Whitman National Forest31,229
TahkenitchSiuslaw National Forest5,799
TenmileSiuslaw National Forest10,818
Umpqua SpitSiuslaw National Forest2,090
Wind CreekMt. Hood National Forest5,438
WoahinkSiuslaw National Forest5,309
Utah (19)
AreaForestAcres
418024Uinta National Forest51,699
418025Uinta National Forest32,698
418026Uinta National Forest14,038
418027Uinta National Forest13,884
418028Uinta National Forest34,002
418040Uinta National Forest1,702
Boulger - Black CanyonManti-Lasal National Forest23,286
Bunker CreekDixie National Forest7,474
Fishlake MountainFishlake National Forest25,217
Lava BedsDixie National Forest14,944
Lone Peak ContiguousWasatch-Cache National Forest874
Mt. AireWasatch-Cache National Forest9,681
Mt. Logan SouthWasatch-Cache National Forest17,014
Mt. NaomiWasatch-Cache National Forest41,922
North FrancisWasatch-Cache National Forest8,148
Temple PeakWasatch-Cache National Forest24,081
Twin PeaksWasatch-Cache National Forest6,157
WellsvilleWasatch-Cache National Forest1,717
White PineWasatch-Cache National Forest1,942
Washington (12)
AreaForestAcres
ChelanWenatchee National Forest74,650
EntiatWenatchee National Forest72,617
Goat Rocks AdjWenatchee National Forest6,108
Gotchen CreekGifford Pinchot National Forest7,518
Mt. Baker MaMt Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest24,847
Mt. Baker NorthMt Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest16,873
Mt. Baker WestMt Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest25,390
Norse PeakWenatchee National Forest10,169
QuartzWenatchee National Forest8,550
Rock CreekWenatchee National Forest32,239
South QuinaultOlympic National Forest11,081
Twin LakesWenatchee National Forest22,496
West Virginia (2)
AreaForestAcres
Canaan LoopMonongahela National Forest7,867
Seneca CreekMonongahela National Forest22,287
Wyoming (5)
AreaForestAcres
Grayback RidgeBridger-Teton National Forest295,113
Little BighornBighorn National Forest133,949
Salt River RangeBridger-Teton National Forest235,661
Teton Corridor TrailheadsBridger-Teton National Forest286
Walker PrairieBighorn National Forest62,434
References (10)
  1. Flora of North America Editorial Committee (FNA). 2021. Flora of North America north of Mexico. Vol. 10. Magnoliophyta: Proteaceae to Elaeagnaceae. Oxford Univ. Press, New York. xxiv + 456 pp.
  2. Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF). 2025. Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) data portal. Online. Available: https://www.gbif.org/ (accessed 2025).
  3. iNaturalist. 2025. Online. Available: https://www.inaturalist.org (accessed 2025).
  4. Kartesz, 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.
  5. Native Plant Trust. 2025. Go Botany website. Online. Available: https://gobotany.nativeplanttrust.org (accessed 2025).
  6. NatureServe. 2025. NatureServe Network Biodiversity Location Data. NatureServe, Arlington, Virginia.
  7. <p>NatureServe's Rapid Analysis of Rarity and Endangerment Conservation Assessment Tool (RARECAT). 2025. Version: 2.1.1 (released April 04, 2025).</p>
  8. Southern Appalachian Species Viability Project. 2002. A partnership between the U.S. Forest Service-Region 8, Natural Heritage Programs in the Southeast, NatureServe, and independent scientists to develop and review data on 1300+ regionally and locally rare species in the Southern Appalachian and Alabama region. Database (Access 97) provided to the U.S. Forest Service by NatureServe, Durham, North Carolina.
  9. Southwest Environmental Information Network (SEINet). 2025. Collections Databases. Online. Available: https://swbiodiversity.org/seinet/collections/index.php (accessed 2025).
  10. Weakley, A.S., and Southeastern Flora Team. 2025. Flora of the southeastern United States Web App. Edition of February 18, 2025. University of North Carolina Herbarium (NCU), North Carolina Botanical Garden, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill. Online. Available: https://fsus.ncbg.unc.edu (accessed 2025).