Oregon willowherb facts for kids

The Oregon willowherb (scientific name: Epilobium oregonense) is a pretty flowering plant. It belongs to the evening primrose family. This plant is found in western North America. You can see it growing from British Columbia all the way down to Arizona.

Oregon willowherb loves wet places. It grows well in many different types of damp areas.

What Does Oregon Willowherb Look Like?

This plant is a perennial herb. This means it lives for more than two years. It often grows thin, upright stems. These stems can reach almost 40 centimeters (about 16 inches) tall. Sometimes, it spreads out to form flat mats on the ground. It does this using special stems called stolons.

Leaves and Flowers

The leaves of the Oregon willowherb are small. Leaves near the bottom of the plant are round. Higher up the stem, the leaves become long and thin.

The plant produces small flowers. These flowers grow in a cluster called an inflorescence. Each flower has four petals. The petals can be white or light pink. They are only a few millimeters long.

Fruits and Seeds

After the flowers bloom, the plant forms a fruit. This fruit is a long, thin capsule. It can be up to 5 centimeters (about 2 inches) long. The capsule sits on a long stalk. This stalk is called a pedicel. Sometimes, the pedicel is even longer than the fruit itself!