Epilobium angustifolium ‘Stahl Rose’

Pink Rose-bay Willow Herb Onagraceae

Rosebay Willowherb with the volume turned down—but only slightly. ‘Stahl Rose’ produces strong, upright stems clothed in narrow, willow-like leaves and topped from mid-summer with elegant spires of soft rose-pink flowers, each set against darker sepals. It has all the architectural charm of the native species, without quite the same determination to colonise the entire county.

A cultivated selection valued for its softer flower colour and comparatively restrained garden presence, although it still spreads by rhizomes—this is Rosebay Willowherb, after all, and it has not entirely abandoned its adventurous spirit. The silky seed capsules that follow are attractive in their own right and release the familiar parachuted seeds.

Excellent for a sunny or lightly shaded border in moist, fertile soil, particularly in naturalistic planting where its height and vertical flower spikes are useful. A valuable nectar source for pollinators and foodplant for the larvae of several moth species.

Height: 1–1.5m
Spread: 1–1.5m
Flowering: July–September
Hardiness: H7
Aspect: Sun or partial shade
Soil: Moist but well drained

Botanical note: Kew’s Plants of the World Online currently accepts Epilobium angustifolium L. as the correct name and treats Chamerion angustifolium (L.) Holub as a synonym. The latter name is nevertheless widely used in horticultural literature.