Epilobium lactiflorum
Milkflower willowherb
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Family: Onagraceae · Type: Herb · Native
Epilobium lactiflorum (Milkflower willowherb) is a native California herb in the Onagraceae family, recognized by but white flowers and winged petioles diagnostic.
Milkflower willowherb is a California native perennial found in the Klamath Ranges, high Cascade Range, Sierra Nevada, and northern White and Inyo Mountains in damp meadows, streambanks, and talus slopes at elevations of 1,400 to 3,350 meters. Flowering from June to September, this plant produces white flowers with delicate, nodding petals 4 to 8.8 millimeters long. Growing 15 to 50 centimeters tall with ascending stems that form clumped clusters, it spreads through short, leafy stolons. Its narrowly ovate to lanceolate leaves are 20 to 55 millimeters long, slightly toothed along the edges and minutely hairy with winged leaf stalks 3 to 12 millimeters long. The slender fruit capsules extend 50 to 100 millimeters, bearing scattered hairs and developing on pedicels 20 to 45 millimeters long.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 27 sympatric species but white flowers and winged petioles diagnostic
Habitat and range
Habitat: Damp meadows, streambanks, talus
Elevation: 1400-3350 m
California counties: Inyo, Fresno, Riverside, Sierra, Siskiyou, Butte, Mono, Tuolumne, Tulare, San Bernardino, Plumas, Shasta, Mariposa, El Dorado, Humboldt, Placer, Kings
Outside California: to Alaska, Montana, New Mexico, also eastern North America, northern Eurasia
Bloom period
Epilobium lactiflorum 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 lactiflorum native to California?
Yes. Epilobium lactiflorum is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Epilobium lactiflorum bloom?
Epilobium lactiflorum blooms Jun-Sep.
Where in California does Epilobium lactiflorum grow?
Epilobium lactiflorum occurs in Inyo, Fresno, Riverside, Sierra, Siskiyou, Butte, Mono, Tuolumne and other counties, at elevations of 1400-3350 m.
What plant family does Epilobium lactiflorum belong to?
Epilobium lactiflorum is in the Onagraceae family, genus Epilobium.
What habitat does Epilobium lactiflorum grow in?
Epilobium lactiflorum grows in Damp meadows, streambanks, talus.
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.