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Willowherb Facts

Willowherb Facts
Willowherb is herbaceous plant that belongs to the evening primrose family. It originates from Eurasia. Willowherb is widely distributed and commonly seen in Europe, Asia, North America and Africa today. It grows in moist areas that provide enough sun. Willowherb can be often found in wastelands, marshes, moist forests, pastures, meadows and along the lakes, ponds and rivers. Willowherb is classified as weed in almost all countries outside its native range. Despite its invasive nature, people often cultivate willowherb in ornamental purposes.
Interesting Willowherb Facts:
Willowherb has erect, branched, hairy stem that can reach 4 to 8 feet in height.
Willowherb produces narrow, lance-shaped leaves. They are finely toothed on the edges and covered with dense layer of hairs. Leaves are oppositely arranged on the stem. They look like the leaves of willow tree, hence the name "willowherb".
Willowherb produces showy rose-purple flowers arranged in dense clusters. Flowers have notched petals and prominent, creamy-white stigma. Center of the flowers is white colored. Flowers contain both types of reproductive organs (perfect flowers).
Willowherb blooms from July to August. Flowers are rich source of nectar which attracts hoverflies and bees, main pollinators of this plant. In the case that natural pollinators are not available, willowherb is able to perform self-pollination.
Fruit of willowherb is narrow capsule filled with silky white hairs and numerous small seed.
Long hairs on the seed of willowherb facilitate spreading by wind in the wild.
Willowherb propagates via seed and rhizome sprouts.
Willowherb is also known as "Codlings and Cream" due to specific, "scalded codling"-like smell which crushed leaves emit (word "cream" refers to creamy colored stigma).
Willowherb can be used in human diet. Young shoots can be boiled and consumed like asparagus.
Flowers of willowherb can be used as a source of sugar. They were used for the preparation of jellies, ice-creams, syrups and other desserts in the past.
Willowherb can be used as animal fodder. Goats, cows and sheep like to eat this plant.
Willoherb can be used in treatment of whooping cough, hiccups, asthma and various skin disorders in infants. This plant is also used in treatment of bladder, prostate and hormone disorders. Leaves of willowherb have astringent properties (induce constriction of skin and other tissues).
Willowherb has prolific nature and it easily occupies new habitats (especially wetlands). It prevents growth of native plant species and often chokes water flows. Uncontrolled growth of willowherb reduces biodiversity in occupied areas, decreases amount of available food for herbivores and prevents nesting of waterfowls.
People use various chemical (herbicides) and mechanical methods (removal of roots and rhizomes from the soil) to eradicate willowherb from occupied areas.
Willowherb is perennial plant, which means that it can survive more than 2 years in the wild.


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