Great Willowherb - Epilobium hirsutum

Robust, softly hairy, tall plant to 2 metres, forming extensive patches; stems erect. Leaves opposite sometimes whorled, oblong to lanceolate unstalked, and half clasping the stem, coarsely toothed. Flowers bright purplish pink, 15 to 25 mm in a leafy raceme, petals notched, stigma four lobed.

 E parviflorum can look similar, but has smaller, paler flowers

Waste places, ditches, roadside verges, and damp areas.

June to September.

Perennial.

Very common in England and Wales, but mainly confined to the east coast in Scotland.

Very common in Leicestershire and Rutland. In the 1979 Flora survey of Leicestershire it was found in 600 of the 617 tetrads.