Epilobium coloratum, commonly known as Cinnamon Willow-Herb, is a native perennial wildflower found in wet meadows, marshes, streambanks, and other moist habitats throughout Illinois. It prefers consistently damp to wet soils and grows well in full sun to partial shade, making it an ideal plant for rain gardens and naturalized wetland areas.
This plant features lance-shaped, toothed leaves that often display a reddish or purplish tint—especially in fall—and reddish stems that give it its "cinnamon" name. From late summer to early fall, it produces small, pink to lavender, four-petaled flowers that are subtly attractive and bloom sequentially along the upper parts of the stems. The plant usually grows 2 to 4 feet tall and spreads modestly in suitable wet environments.
For Illinois native plant enthusiasts, Epilobium coloratum is a low-maintenance, ecologically beneficial choice for wetland restoration projects, pollinator gardens, and moist border plantings. Its flowers attract bees, butterflies, and other insects, while the plant itself contributes to stabilizing wet soils and supporting biodiversity in aquatic-edge ecosystems. It pairs well with species like Blue Flag, Swamp Milkweed, and Cardinal Flower for a vibrant, moisture-loving native display.
Epilobium coloratum, commonly known as Cinnamon Willow-Herb, is a native perennial wildflower found in wet meadows, marshes, streambanks, and other moist habitats throughout Illinois. It prefers consistently damp to wet soils and grows well in full sun to partial shade, making it an ideal plant for rain gardens and naturalized wetland areas.
This plant features lance-shaped, toothed leaves that often display a reddish or purplish tint—especially in fall—and reddish stems that give it its "cinnamon" name. From late summer to early fall, it produces small, pink to lavender, four-petaled flowers that are subtly attractive and bloom sequentially along the upper parts of the stems. The plant usually grows 2 to 4 feet tall and spreads modestly in suitable wet environments.
For Illinois native plant enthusiasts, Epilobium coloratum is a low-maintenance, ecologically beneficial choice for wetland restoration projects, pollinator gardens, and moist border plantings. Its flowers attract bees, butterflies, and other insects, while the plant itself contributes to stabilizing wet soils and supporting biodiversity in aquatic-edge ecosystems. It pairs well with species like Blue Flag, Swamp Milkweed, and Cardinal Flower for a vibrant, moisture-loving native display.
Bloom: late summer to early fall
Habitats: moist woodlands; poorly drained areas of black soil prairies; various kinds of wetlands (bogs, drainage ditches, edges of ponds, fens, rivers, and seeps); woodland borders
Lifespan: perennial
Moisture: wet to moist
Plant type (height): forb (1 to 4 feet)
Requirements: full sun to light shade
Soil: lots of organic material
