Epilobium hirsutum

FamilyGenus: Epilobiumnative in Germany

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Species

interact

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204

Interactions

documented

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Host relationships

Species

About this species

Epilobium hirsutum is a native herbaceous perennial in Great Britain, growing in sunny, moist, nutrient-rich, calcareous places. It bears broad leaves and pink blooms from May to September.

Ecological network

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PollinationLarval hostFlower visit

Ecological significance

Epilobium hirsutum is adapted to sunny, moist, nutrient-rich, calcareous environments with low disturbance. It is not salt-tolerant and its tiny seeds are wind-dispersed.

Annual cycle

Flowering occurs from May to September. Top growth dies back over winter, with fresh shoots emerging in spring.

Standort & Merkmale

Light

Sonne

Moisture

Frisch (Mäßig feucht)

Soil

Starkzehrer (Nährstoffreicher/Fetter Boden)

Flowering period

Mai – Sep

Soil reaction

Basisch / Kalkhold

Bioregion

Continental

Growth form

Krautige Pflanze

Woodiness

Nicht verholzt

Leaf type

Breitblättrig

Plant height

1.151 m

Morphological traits: TRY ID3 (CC BY 3.0) & TRY ID81 (CC BY)

Pflege & Anbau

Grow in full sun on moisture-retentive, fertile, lime-rich soil. Suited to damp borders or waterside situations. Cut back after flowering if desired.

Scientific profile

Epilobium hirsutum is a broad-leaved, non-woody herbaceous plant reaching about 1.15 metres in height. Native in Great Britain, it typically occupies sunny sites with moist, base-rich, fertile soils and shows no salt tolerance. Ellenberg-type indicator values confirm its preference for full light, damp conditions, and calcareous substrates. The species occurs in habitats with low disturbance. Leaf area averages around 1148 mm², and the minute, wind-dispersed seeds weigh approximately 0.11 mg.

Pollinators & visitors

70 Arten interagieren mit dieser Pflanze

Deilephila elpenorPieris rapae Pieris napi Bombus ruderarius Aglais urticae Bombus terrestris Nomada fabriciana Pararge aegeria Lasioglossum morio Leptidea sinapisBombus humilisBombus lapidarius Bombus hortorum Bombus hypnorum Bombus pratorum Satyrium w-album Polyommatus icarus Pieris brassicae Polygonia c-album Gonepteryx rhamni Thymelicus sylvestris Celastrina argiolus Lasioglossum fratellum Bombus pascuorum Bombus sylvarum Bombus lucorumCantharis rufa (Linnaeus)Apis melliferaColias croceus Sphaerophoria scripta Eupeodes corollae Syritta pipiens Andrena ovatula Sceliphron caementariumLasioglossum nitidulumEpisyrphus balteatusHalictus simplexHalictus compressusManiola jurtina Thymelicus lineolaHalictus simplex.agg.HelophilusBombus muscorum Bombus vestalis Bombus barbutellusColletes hederaeColletes daviesanusLasioglossum calceatumBombus bohemicusBombus campestris

Host relationships

2 species use this plant as a host

Ecliptopera silaceataMniotype adusta

Other flower visitors

5 other species visit the flowers

Pyrochroa serraticornis Agelastica alni Cetonia aurataEmpis lividaSiphona geniculata

Sources & data origin

•Cook et al. (2025) UK Butterfly & Moth Traits (DOI: 10.5285/dbc7cc17-cbbd-49dd-bab4-8e8855768d66)

•Interaktionsdaten via GloBI (CC-BY 4.0)

•pollinator_interactions

•Baden-Böhm F, App M, Thiele J (2022) — The FloRes Database: A floral resources trait database for pollinator habitat-assessment generated by a multistep workflow. Johann Heinrich von Thünen-Institut, Dryad, DOI: 10.5061/dryad.djh9w0w29 (CC0)

•FloraWeb / BfN

•EIVE 1.0 — Dengler et al. (2023), DOI: 10.3897/VCS.98324 (CC BY 4.0)

•GBIF Backbone Taxonomy — GBIF Secretariat (2024), DOI: 10.15468/39omei (CC BY 4.0)

•TRY Categorical Traits (ID3) — Kattge et al. (2012), DOI: 10.17871/TRY.3 (CC BY 3.0)

•TRY Global Spectrum (ID81) — Díaz et al. (2016/2021), DOI: 10.17871/TRY.81 (CC BY)

•Govaerts R et al. (2025) — World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP) v14. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. DOI: 10.34885/xs7h-ze42 (CC BY 4.0)

•Foto: © Adobe Stock / AdobeStock_515012643

All data is licensed under CC BY 4.0, CC0, or compatible terms. Attribution according to license conditions. Full source overview →