Epilobium ciliatum
Fringed willowherb
Photo by Chez Brungraber
Family: Onagraceae · Type: Herb · Native
Epilobium ciliatum (Fringed willowherb) is a native California herb in the Onagraceae family, recognized by Rosette/fleshy-shoot willowherb; strigose in lines plus glandular above; fine-toothed leaves, small notched white-pink petals.
Fringed willowherb is a California native perennial found in diverse habitats across North American mountain and foothill regions. Flowering from June to September, this plant produces delicate white to rose-purple flowers in small clusters with distinctive petals. Growing with erect stems 30 to 60 centimeters tall, the plant forms loose clumps and has a strigose (lined hair) texture that becomes more glandular toward the stem tips. Its leaves are narrowly lanceolate to ovate, 1 to 12 centimeters long with fine teeth and conspicuous veins, arranged with short petioles. The plant produces slender fruit capsules 15 to 100 millimeters long that are covered in fine hairs.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: Rosette/fleshy-shoot willowherb; strigose in lines plus glandular above; fine-toothed leaves, small notched white-pink petals.
Habitat and range
California counties: Ventura, Los Angeles, San Bernardino, Kern, Plumas, Inyo, San Diego, Santa Barbara, Riverside, Orange, Fresno, Mono, Monterey, Trinity, San Luis Obispo, Del Norte, El Dorado, Mendocino, Napa, San Mateo, Siskiyou, Placer, Amador, Calaveras, Alpine, Nevada, Sacramento, Humboldt, Contra Costa, Marin, Santa Cruz, San Francisco, Madera, Sonoma, Mariposa, Tehama, Tuolumne, Yolo, Lake, San Joaquin, Colusa, Tulare, Alameda
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 ciliatum native to California?
Yes. Epilobium ciliatum is native to California (recorded as native).
Where in California does Epilobium ciliatum grow?
Epilobium ciliatum occurs in Ventura, Los Angeles, San Bernardino, Kern, Plumas, Inyo, San Diego, Santa Barbara and other counties.
What plant family does Epilobium ciliatum belong to?
Epilobium ciliatum is in the Onagraceae family, genus Epilobium.
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.