Fringed Willowherb

Epilobium ciliatum

Pollinator Value

🐛 Larval Host: Hyles lineata, Anticlea multiferata, Spargania luctuata, Eustroma semiatrata, Albuna pyramidalis, Ecliptopera silaceata, Proserpinus flavofasciata, Spargania magnoliata, Alypia langtoni, Eulithis gracilineata, Amphion floridensis
S13+S15 11 verified Eastern NA
❄️ Winter Food Source: Seeds of Epilobium are consumed by Dusky Grouse (Phasianidae) and Eurasian Linnet (Fringillidae). The tiny wind-dispersed seeds persist on dried capsules into winter, providing a minor food source for seed-eating birds.
S57

Proximity Score: 0
Native Status: ❌ Outaouais ✅ Ottawa ❌ QC ✅ ON
Closest Direction: Local
CEC Eco-Regions: 5 – Northern Forests, 5.2 – Mixed Wood Shield, 5.2.3 – Algonquin/Southern Laurentians
Rarity Notes: Globally secure (G5) and nationally secure in both Canada (N5) and the US (N5). Ranked S5 in Ontario. Quebec rank is SNR (not ranked). Not listed under SARA or COSEWIC. One of the most widespread Epilobium species in North America.
S22+S26
Rarity Ranks: QC SNR – Not Ranked, ON S5 – Secure
Migration: Stable
Ecological Context: Fringed willowherb is a common perennial of moist disturbed habitats across the Ottawa region. It colonizes streambanks, ditches, marshy ground, wet clearings, and periodically wet rock outcrops including limestone crevices. Listed as Common in the Brunton Ottawa Flora 2005, it thrives in the mixed-wood landscape of ecoregion 5.2.3 where it occupies wet to mesic openings in both natural and anthropogenic settings.
S62+S7+S6

Roles: Pollinator Attractor
S73/S29/S72 Evidence: Pollinator Attractor: S73 [MEDIUM]: S68 22 bee associations (threshold=3)]

Category: Analgesic, Orthopedic Aid, Antidiarrheal
S28 Moerman Drug categories
Notes: Hopi used the plant for leg pains (analgesic). Kayenta Navajo applied an infusion as a lotion and poultice of roots for muscular cramps (orthopedic aid). Potawatomi used an infusion of the root to check diarrhea (antidiarrheal).
S28

❌ Not Edible

Foraging Notes: No food uses are documented for this species. Moerman lists only medicinal (Drug) uses for Epilobium ciliatum; no Food category entries exist.
S28+S29