Hunting at Roadside V #10

Great willowherb is a large herb that flourishes on damp ground, such as wet grasslands, ditches, riversides and woodland clearings. Deep pink flowers appear on the top of hairy stems from July to August and its fluffy seeds are dispersed by the wind.

The very young shoots can be treated like asparagus and served with butter and lemon, the older leaves get very bitter. Young leaves can be added to salads. The soft inner part of the stem can be easily removed and used as a thickener for soups or stews.

In traditional medicine, Great Willowherb has been used to treat a variety of conditions, including coughs, colds, and other respiratory problems. Its nutritional offerings and medicinal benefits as well as uses as a cordage, the fluffy seeds make an excellent fire starting material and were widely used as insulating material and woven with other fibres for clothing.