We proudly research, grow, and write about our plants by hand. Descriptions are based on our experience as well as information gathered from reputable sources: books, periodicals, and select websites. Should you have questions beyond what is listed please email or call.

  • Close-up of a purple Epilobium hirsutum, commonly known as hairy willowherb, flower with a blurred green background
  • Close-up of a purple Epilobium hirsutum, commonly known as hairy willowherb, flower with green stems and leaves on a blurred natural background
  • Epilobium hirsutum, commonly known as hairy willowherb, plant with thin stems and small leaves against a green background
  • Field of pink Epilobium hirsutum, commonly known as hairy willowherb, flowers with green grass and plants in the background
  • Tall Epilobium hirsutum, commonly known as hairy willowherb, plants with purple flowers swaying in a field with trees in the background
  • Pink Epilobium hirsutum, commonly known as hairy willowherb, flowers by a stream with greenery in the background
  • Green grasses with pink Epilobium hirsutum, commonly known as hairy willowherb, flowering plants and trees in the background
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Epilobium hirsutum | hairy willowherb

$8.99
$8.99
Shipping calculated at checkout.

Grown from seed in living soil without the use of pesticides, chemicals, or carbon fuels.

Plants may ship dormant in early spring.

Available FALL 2026. Sign up for the waitlist to be notified when available for purchase.

Hairy willowherb (Epilobium hirsutum) is a tall, strong-growing (sometimes frighteningly so) perennial for the moist garden or waterside. Small pink flowers attract scads of pollinators as they dance above light fuzzed foliage through summer.

Easy to grow in full sun or part shade in soil that does not completely dry out.

Epilobium hirsutum is not native to the US but it has naturalized and can be found growing in wet fields and pastures, roadside ditches, and marshes. 

NOTE: This plant is listed as invasive in certain states. Please check your states invasive species list before ordering.

We grow this tough plant in a tricky area on our property where not much else will grow. That said, the area is sited well away from any natural areas that might allow this plant to escape into the wild. 

Zones: 2 to 7
Family: Onagraceae
Type: Herbaceous Perennial
Height: 36 to 48 in.
Spread: 36 to 48 in.
Exposure: Full Sun to Part Shade
Soil: Moist, Average
Bloom Time: June to September
Native Range: temperate Northern Hemisphere
Common Names: hairy willowherb, apple pie, codlins-and-cream, European fireweed, fiddle grass

HT6b-p
Special Characteristics
  • Pollinator favorite
  • Rampant runner
image credits

Krzysztof Ziarnek, Kenraiz, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Tournasol7, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Agnieszka Kwiecień, Nova, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Great Willowherb (Epilobium hirsutum) by Anne Burgess, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Emőke Dénes, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Industrees, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons

Close-up of a purple Epilobium hirsutum, commonly known as hairy willowherb, flower with a blurred green background
Close-up of a purple Epilobium hirsutum, commonly known as hairy willowherb, flower with green stems and leaves on a blurred natural background
Epilobium hirsutum, commonly known as hairy willowherb, plant with thin stems and small leaves against a green background
Field of pink Epilobium hirsutum, commonly known as hairy willowherb, flowers with green grass and plants in the background
Tall Epilobium hirsutum, commonly known as hairy willowherb, plants with purple flowers swaying in a field with trees in the background
Pink Epilobium hirsutum, commonly known as hairy willowherb, flowers by a stream with greenery in the background
Green grasses with pink Epilobium hirsutum, commonly known as hairy willowherb, flowering plants and trees in the background

Ordering information

Preorders

You may place your order anytime to reserve plants for spring 2026 shipping. If you place multiple orders, we will combine plants into one box (or as many as needed) and any extra shipping charges will be refunded.

We will resume shipping plants as soon as plants are ready and temperatures are appropriate in our location and yours.

We will check in with you a week before shipping to make sure you receive your plants at a time that is convenient for you.

Shipping

Live plants ship in spring and fall only. Plants may ship dormant, depending on variety and season. Shipping costs are most reasonable when bundling like size plants.

  • 4-inch: 1-6 plants ship for $15.00 / 7-13 plants ship for $18.00 / 14-30 plants ship for $40.00
  • 1-gal: 1-2 plants ship for $18.00 / 3-4 plants ship for $25.00 / 5-6 plants ship for $40.00
  • trees & shrubs: $27.00-$40.00 each, height dependent
  • seeds: $6.75 or free with orders over $15.00

We regret that we cannot ship internationally or to the following states: AK, AZ, CA, CO, FL, HI, ID, MT, NV, OR, UT, or WA.

Read more about our shipping policies here.

Nursery pick up

We will email you to schedule a day and time to collect your plants when they are ready in spring. Generally, plants can be collected from the nursery Monday through Sunday from 10am-4pm in Spring, Summer, and Fall.

Plant Sizes

We most commonly use the following pot sizes for perennials:

  • 4-inch pot: 3.5" H x 3.5" W x 3.5" D
  • 2-quart pot: 6" H x 5.25" W x 5.25" D
  • 1-gallon pot: 6.87" H x 8" Dia (this is a true one gallon pot, not the smaller 'trade' one gallon pot used by many nurseries)

Check out our illustrated pot size guide here.

Representative trees & shrubs are photographed in their pots and posted on each plant page.

Sustainability

Sustainability is at the heart of what we do at The Old Dairy. We grow all of our plants outdoors without the use of chemicals, fertilizers, carbon fuels, or peat.

Many of our perennials are grown in the ground and dug upon order (this is especially true for larger sizes). This practice allows us to grow stronger, healthier plants using native soil, and ultimately reduces our impact on the environment.

Our open-pollinated seeds are collected from plants in our mother beds, which have never been treated with chemicals or sprays of any kind.

Read all about our sustainable practices here.

See all in this genus

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view this plant in our garden

Epilobium hirsutum | hairy willowherb | The Loop 2025

seedling image

Epilobium hirsutum | hairy willowherb

We are slowly creating a seedling image library to help make weeding easier.
garden location coming soongarden location coming soon
 
garden location coming soongarden location coming soon