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Epilobium parviflorum - Schreb.

Common Name Codlins And Cream, Smallflower hairy willowherb
Family Onagraceae
USDA hardiness Coming soon
Known Hazards None known
Habitats Stream banks, marshes, fens etc, to 360 metres[17].
Range Europe, including Britain, from Sweden south and east to N. Africa and W. Asia to India.
Edibility Rating    (2 of 5)
Other Uses    (0 of 5)
Weed Potential No
Medicinal Rating    (0 of 5)
Care (info)
Moist Soil Wet Soil Full sun
Epilobium parviflorum Codlins And Cream, Smallflower hairy willowherb


Epilobium parviflorum Codlins And Cream, Smallflower hairy willowherb
http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/User:FabelfrohEpilobium pyrricholophum

 

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Summary


Physical Characteristics

 icon of manicon of flower
Epilobium parviflorum is a PERENNIAL growing to 0.6 m (2ft). It is in flower from July to August. The species is hermaphrodite (has both male and female organs) and is pollinated by Bees, hoverflies. The plant is self-fertile.
It is noted for attracting wildlife.
Suitable for: light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils and prefers well-drained soil. Suitable pH: mildly acid, neutral and basic (mildly alkaline) soils. It cannot grow in the shade. It prefers moist or wet soil.

UK Hardiness Map US Hardiness Map

Synonyms

Habitats

 Bog Garden;

Edible Uses

Edible Parts: Leaves
Edible Uses:

Leaves - raw. Added to salads, they have an agreeable flavour[217].

References   More on Edible Uses

Medicinal Uses

Plants For A Future can not take any responsibility for any adverse effects from the use of plants. Always seek advice from a professional before using a plant medicinally.


None known

References   More on Medicinal Uses

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FOOD FOREST PLANTS

Other Uses

None known

Special Uses

Attracts Wildlife

References   More on Other Uses

Cultivation details

Succeeds in most soils[1]. Prefers a well-drained but moisture retentive soil in a sunny position[200] or in partial shade[187]. The flowers are attractive to bees and provide a good late source of nectar[200].

References   Carbon Farming Information and Carbon Sequestration Information

Temperature Converter

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Propagation

Seed - sow early spring in situ or as soon as the seed is ripe. Division in spring or autumn. Very easy, larger clumps can be replanted direct into their permanent positions, though it is best to pot up smaller clumps and grow them on in a cold frame until they are rooting well. Plant them out in the spring.

Other Names

If available other names are mentioned here

Native Plant Search

Search over 900 plants ideal for food forests and permaculture gardens. Filter to search native plants to your area. The plants selected are the plants in our book 'Plants For Your Food Forest: 500 Plants for Temperate Food Forests and Permaculture Gardens, as well as plants chosen for our forthcoming related books for Tropical/Hot Wet Climates and Mediterranean/Hot Dry Climates. Native Plant Search

Found In

Countries where the plant has been found are listed here if the information is available

Weed Potential

Right plant wrong place. We are currently updating this section. Please note that a plant may be invasive in one area but may not in your area so it’s worth checking.

Conservation Status

IUCN Red List of Threatened Plants Status :

Related Plants
Latin NameCommon NameHabitHeightHardinessGrowthSoilShadeMoistureEdibleMedicinalOther
Epilobium angustifoliumWillow HerbPerennial2.0 3-7 FLMHSNDM322
Epilobium coloratumPurpleleaf willowherbPerennial0.8 0-0  LMHSNM10 
Epilobium glabellum Perennial0.2 7-10  LMHSNM113
Epilobium hirsutumCodlins And CreamPerennial2.0 0-0  LMHNM212
Epilobium latifoliumRiver BeautyPerennial0.4 4-8  LMHSNM321
Epilobium macranthum  0.0 -  LMHSNM11 
Epilobium palustreMarsh Willow HerbPerennial0.4 -  LMHSNM10 
Epilobium pyrricholophum Perennial0.8 -  LMHSNM10 
Epilobium tetragonumSquare-Stemmed Willow HerbPerennial0.6 -  LMHSNM10 

Growth: S = slow M = medium F = fast. Soil: L = light (sandy) M = medium H = heavy (clay). pH: A = acid N = neutral B = basic (alkaline). Shade: F = full shade S = semi-shade N = no shade. Moisture: D = dry M = Moist We = wet Wa = water.

 

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Expert comment

Author

Schreb.

Botanical References

17

Links / References

For a list of references used on this page please go here

Readers comment

Ian   Wed Oct 26 2005

Medicinal use: sold as a urinary anti-inflamatory specifically for BPH, prostatitis and candidiasis.

Miles Irving   Fri Apr 14 2006

Epilobium parviflorum: 1: J Ethnopharmacol. 2006 Jan 3;103(1):71-5. Epub 2005 Aug 24. Related Articles, Links Studies on antibacterial, anti-inflammatory and antioxidant activity of herbal remedies used in the treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia and prostatitis. Steenkamp V, Gouws MC, Gulumian M, Elgorashi EE, van Staden J. Department of Urology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Pretoria, South Africa. [email protected] Crude water and ethanolic extracts of five herbal remedies reported in the literature for traditional treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) and/or prostatitis were investigated for their effect on hydroxyl scavenging activity, antibacterial activity and their ability to inhibit cyclooxygenase-1 and -2 (COX-1 and COX-2) catalysed prostaglandin biosynthesis. Both the water and ethanol extracts of Hypoxis hemerocallidea and Epilobium parviflorum inhibited the growth of Escherichia coli. All 10 extracts scavenged the hydroxyl radical but with various potencies (32-93%). Ethanolic extracts were the most active in inhibiting COX-1 catalysed prostaglandin biosynthesis. The ethanolic extract of Epilobium parviflorum showed inhibitory effects on both the COX-1 and -2 catalysed prostaglandin biosynthesis, inhibited growth of Escherichia coli and exerted antioxidant activity. Although these results support the traditional use of Epilobium parviflorum for treatment of prostatitis and BPH, further investigation is required, for this promising plant. : J Ethnopharmacol. 2004 Mar;91(1):13-20. Related Articles, Links Cytoprotection by Achyrocline satureioides (Lam) D.C. and some of its main flavonoids against oxidative stress. Arredondo MF, Blasina F, Echeverry C, Morquio A, Ferreira M, Abin-Carriquiry JA, Lafon L, Dajas F. Department of Neurochemistry, Instituto de Investigaciones Biologicas, Clemente Estable, Avda Italia 3318, CP 11600 Montevideo, Uruguay. Epidemiological studies indicate that dietary antioxidants can influence the incidence of neurodegenerative diseases. Among them flavonoids have been proposed to be effective cytoprotectors. Consequently, herbs with a high concentration of these compounds such as Achyrocline satureioides, Ginkgo biloba and Epilobium parviflorum are of special interest. In this context a comparative study of the cytoprotective capacity of infusions from the three plants against an oxidative insult was performed. Hence, the cytoprotective activity of each infusion against H2O2 injury to PC12 cells was tested and the antioxidant capacity was assessed by the ABTS*+ radical bleaching assay. Free and glycosylated flavonoids contained in the infusions were identified by HPLC and the cytoprotective effect of some of these individual flavonoids was tested. The analysis of the flavonoid content of the infusions revealed different profiles. Epilobium parviflorum infusion showed the highest antioxidant capacity but only Achyrocline satureioides infusion proved to be cytoprotective. Moreover, the free flavonoids quercetin and luteolin contained in this infusion were also cytoprotective. In conclusion, the free radical scavenger capacity did not correlate with the cytoprotective profile of the infusions. The special mixture of unglycosylated Achyrocline satureioides flavonoids could be a clue to explain the unique effect of this plant.

Kym Grant   Fri Apr 20 2007

epilobium .com useful info on Epilobium for prostate cure

Rooooo   Thu Jul 23 2009

I have prostatitis and candidiasis. This plant can help me? please send me a good tratment.

Robert Trebilcock   Tue Dec 29 2009

Hi, I'm Rob...will you tell ,please of a British supplier of Epilobium parviflorum Thanks. Rob Trebilcock

   Feb 9 2017 12:00AM

Do hope you will add the info on medicinal uses, there are lots of good sources for information and in general you folks are my go-to source, I always recommend you to my students. Seeds are available for this and for E. augustifolium from Strictly Medicinals Organic Herbs in Oregon, USA.

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