Epilobium anagallidifolium
Alpine willowherb
(c) Jim Morefield, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Onagraceae · Type: Herb · Native
Epilobium anagallidifolium (Alpine willowherb) is a native California herb in the Onagraceae family, recognized by but elevation and size are strongly diagnostic.
Alpine willowherb is a California native perennial found in the Klamath Ranges, high Cascade Range, Sierra Nevada, San Bernardino Mountains, Warner Mountains, and northern White and Inyo Mountains in moist alpine slopes, meadows, and streambanks at elevations of 1,500 to 4,500 meters. Flowering from June to September, this plant produces delicate pink to rose-purple flowers small enough to nod gently on slender stems. Growing as a compact, low-growing herb less than 20 centimeters tall with short, leafy stolons and an ascending to erect form, it spreads in dense tufted clusters. Its leaves range from spoon-shaped basal leaves to elliptic distal leaves, varying from 8 to 25 millimeters long, with sparse strigose hairs and nearly entire margins. The plant forms short, leafy stolons and grows with a distinctive clustered, low-growing habit characteristic of high-elevation alpine environments.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 27 sympatric species but elevation and size are strongly diagnostic
Habitat and range
Habitat: Moist alpine slopes, meadows, streambanks
Elevation: 1500-4500 m
California counties: Mono, San Bernardino, Siskiyou, Inyo, Fresno, Tulare, El Dorado, Shasta, Tuolumne, Madera, Nevada, Modoc, Butte, Alpine, Trinity, Sierra, Mariposa, Lassen
Outside California: circumboreal
Bloom period
Epilobium anagallidifolium blooms Jun-Sep.
How to tell it apart
vs Penstemon: Epilobium has 4 notched petals and opposite leaves; Penstemon has 5-lobed tubular flowers (snapdragon family).; vs Gambelia: Epilobium has 4 notched petals; Gambelia has 5-lobed tubular snapdragon-like flowers.; vs Fuchsia: Epilobium has notched petals spreading flat; Fuchsia has dangling tubular flowers with protruding stamens.; vs Keckiella: Epilobium has 4 notched petals; Keckiella has 5-lobed tubular snapdragon-like flowers.; vs Diplacus: Epilobium has 4 notched petals; Diplacus has 5-lobed tubular monkey flowers.
Frequently asked questions
Is Epilobium anagallidifolium native to California?
Yes. Epilobium anagallidifolium is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Epilobium anagallidifolium bloom?
Epilobium anagallidifolium blooms Jun-Sep.
Where in California does Epilobium anagallidifolium grow?
Epilobium anagallidifolium occurs in Mono, San Bernardino, Siskiyou, Inyo, Fresno, Tulare, El Dorado, Shasta and other counties, at elevations of 1500-4500 m.
What plant family does Epilobium anagallidifolium belong to?
Epilobium anagallidifolium is in the Onagraceae family, genus Epilobium.
What habitat does Epilobium anagallidifolium grow in?
Epilobium anagallidifolium grows in Moist alpine slopes, meadows, streambanks.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · Index of California Plant Names · CalPhotos
Last updated 2026-10-07
Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Cal-IPC, and more.