With its tall pinkish-purple flower spikes rising above many roadsides and wastelands in summer, rosebay willowherb (Chamerion angustifolium) is a plant that’s hard to miss. But did you know that beyond being beautiful to look at, this wildflower also has many edible and medicinal uses?
Foraging rosebay willowherb has been a summer tradition in many parts of Europe for centuries. Known as Ivan Chai in Russia, it was traditionally harvested and dried to make a popular herbal tea. The young shoots and leaves are also edible raw or cooked. In this blog post, we’ll explore how to identify rosebay willowherb, discuss where to find it and when it’s in season, highlight which parts are useful, and share recipes and remedies using this versatile wild plant.
So read on to learn all about foraging for and using this abundant summertime wild edible! We’ll cover identification tips, harvesting guidelines, usage ideas, and even a great rosebay willowherb pesto recipe you can try. Let’s dive into the world of this incredible edible and medicinal plant.
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How to identify Rosebay Willowherb
Rosebay Willowherb (Chamaenerion angustifolium) is a tall wildflower that grows in a variety of habitats across the UK.
- It is a herbaceous perennial plant that can grow up to 2 meters tall. The stems are erect, stout and hairy.
- The leaves are narrow, lanceolate shaped and arranged spirally up the stem. They have a blue-green color on the upper surface and are pale green underneath
- The flowers are pink to purple in color and are arranged in dense, elongated clusters at the top of the stem. Each flower has four petals. It flowers from June to September
- The fruit is a slender capsule that splits to release numerous tiny seeds with silky hairs. These aid wind dispersal of the seeds
- It spreads rapidly from an extensive creeping rootstock and colonizes disturbed ground quickly. It is one of the first plants to colonize areas after forest fires, giving it the name fireweed
- All parts of the plant are edible when young but older leaves and stems become tough. It has a sweet flavor
FORAGING RECIPES
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When it’s Rosebay Willowherb in season
Rosebay Willowherb is in season during the summer months:
- The young shoots emerge and are edible in April and May
- It flowers from June through early September. This is when it is most visible with its tall pinkish-purple flower spikes.
- The flowers give way to fluffy seed heads in late summer and autumn which disperse the seeds
- The leaves, shoots and flowers are edible when young, but get tough as the plant matures through the summer
MORE SEASONAL FORAGING
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What to pick from Rosebay Willowherb and how to use it
- Young shoots and leaves – The young shoots and leaves can be harvested in spring and early summer before the plant flowers. They have a sweet, mild flavor and can be eaten raw or cooked
- Flowers – The pink/purple flowers can be eaten raw when fully open from June to September. They have a sweet nectar flavor and look beautiful as a garnish or addition to salads
- Seeds – The small hairy seeds inside the long seed pods are edible from late summer through autumn. They have a nutty flavor and can be dried and ground into flour
- Roots – The roots are starchy and can be boiled or roasted similar to potatoes when harvested in autumn or spring
- Tea – The leaves and flowers can be dried to make an herbal tea. The young leaves have anti-inflammatory properties
Where to find Rosebay Willowherb
- Wasteland – It thrives on disturbed, infertile ground and is often one of the first plants to colonize waste areas, railway sidings and industrial wasteland
- Woodland clearings – It grows well in open woodland glades and areas cleared of trees. Look for it along the edges and in sunny clearings
- Road verges – Frequently found growing on roadsides and motorway verges across Britain
- River banks – Often grows on the gravelly banks and floodplains of rivers and streams.
- Coastal habitats – Grows well on coastal cliffs, dunes, and shingle beaches around the UK coastline
- Upland moors – Found colonizing disturbed ground in upland moors and heathland across Britain
- Scotland and Northern England – Particularly abundant in Scotland, Northern England and Wales
How to use Rosebay Willowherb
- Food: The young shoots, leaves, flowers, seeds and roots are edible. The shoots and leaves can be eaten raw in salads or lightly cooked. The flowers can be used as a colorful garnish. The roots can be roasted, boiled or ground into flour. The seeds can be dried and used like grain
- Tea: The leaves and flowers can be dried and made into a tasty herbal tea. It has anti-inflammatory and antiseptic properties
- Medicine: Traditionally used to treat skin conditions, heartburn, diarrhea and wounds. It has astringent, anti-inflammatory and antiseptic properties
- Fiber: The stems can be used to make strong natural cordage and the fluffy seed hairs used as tinder
- Dye: A green dye can be obtained from the leaves and stems. The roots produce a pinkish dye
- Honey production: The nectar-rich flowers produce a light colored, flavored honey. Bees frequently forage on rosebay willowherb flowers
- Ornamental: Often grown in gardens and parks for its attractive pink flowers that brighten up the summer months
The health benefits and medicial use of Rosebay Willowherb
- Wound healing – It has antiseptic and anti-inflammatory properties that help heal skin abrasions, burns, ulcers and other minor wounds when applied topically. The astringent tannins help stop bleeding and promote tissue repair
- Skin conditions – Used to treat various skin conditions like eczema, psoriasis, rashes, acne and insect bites due to its anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial action
- Urinary tract infections – The herbs’ compounds may help fight bacteria and reduce inflammation in UTIs and prostate issues
- Diarrhea – Rosebay willowherb has traditionally been used to treat diarrhea because of its astringent tannins that can help reduce intestinal inflammation and fluid loss
- Antioxidant – The plant has high levels of antioxidant compounds like flavonoids, tannins and phenolic acids that can help protect cells from damage
- Immune boosting – Some research indicates the plant may help stimulate immune cell activity to potentially help fight viruses and infections.
This blog post was originally written on 4 February 2024 and last updated on 4 February 2024
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