Data provided by the participants of the Consortium of California Herbaria

View additional distribution information on the Jepson eflora

Epilobium minutum is a species of willowherb known by the common names little willowherb, chaparral willowherb and desert willowherb. It is also called "smallflower willowherb" in reference to its small size relatively. However that name, in particular the British English variant "small-flowered willowherb", typically refers to Epilobium parviflorum. This annual wildflower is native to western North America from British Columbia and Alberta to California and Arizona. This is a plant of fields and meadows, including vernal pools, and it is one of the first flowers to spring up in areas recently cleared by wildfire. Epilobium minutum is a small, spindly plant with thin, branching stems approaching a maximum of 40 centimeters in height. The sparse leaves are oval-shaped and one or two centimeters long. The stems are topped with few tiny white to light purple flowers with notched petals each a few millimeters long. The fruit is a capsule one or two centimeters in length. It is a much smaller plant than most members of the genus, referenced by both the specific name minutum as well as some of its commmon names.

Plant type

Annual herb

Size

1 ft Tall

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Color

White, Purple

Special uses

Containers

Plant communities

Chaparral, Foothill Woodland, Mixed Evergreen Forest, Yellow Pine Forest

Hummingbirds
Birds
Caterpillars
Butterflies

Butterflies and moths supported

0 confirmed and 15 likely

Confirmed Likely

Aetole extraneella

Fireweed Clearwing

Albuna pyramidalis

Langston's Forester

Alypia langtoni

Black-Banded Carpet

Antepirrhoe semiatrata