The broad-leaved willowherb is a low-growing perennial found next to streams, rivers, and even in creekbeds. It stands between 5cm and 30cm high and has showy pink-purple flowers in summer.

The flower is sometimes called “river beauty.” It is part of the evening-primrose family, closely related to fireweed.

Willowherb won’t be found nearby because of our dryer climate. We have to go to higher elevations in locations that have a late season snowpack. These were seen high in the Monashees and the Selkirks in July.

There are many varieties of willowherb and the appearance will vary in each environment from the Sierra Nevada to Alaska. It is edible too. The Inuit ate the young stems with other greens.

We watch for the flowers each summer as we climb to the alpine mountain ranges.