Taxon Report

Epilobium luteum Pursh

yellow willowherb

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© 2021 Scot Loring

Taxon Summary

Epilobium luteum, commonly known as yellow willowherb, is a perennial stoloniferous herb in the Onagraceae that is found in California and elsewhere. It occurs within Lower montane coniferous forest (seeps, Streambanks), and Meadows and seeps, growing at elevations from 1500 to 2195 meters. Epilobium luteum is ranked 2B.3, Plants Rare, Threatened, or Endangered in California, But More Common Elsewhere; Not very threatened in California.

  Classification
Scientific Name:
 Epilobium luteum Pursh
Common Name:
 yellow willowherb
Family: Onagraceae
Element Code: PDONA060H0
USDA Plants Symbol: EPLU
Synonyms/Other Names:

Ecology and Life History
Lifeform: perennial stoloniferous herb
Blooming Period: Jul-Sep Jul-Sep
Elevation: 1500-2195 (4920-7200)
General Habitats: Lower montane coniferous forest, Meadows and seeps
Microhabitat:
Microhabitat Details:

Conservation Status
CA Rare Plant Rank: 2B.3
Global Rank: G5
State Rank:
 S1
State List: None
Fed List: None
Other Status:
CRPR Changes:
  • changed from 2.3 to 2B.3 on 2013-06-12

Occurrence Data from the CNDDB
Total Occurrences: 3
Element Occurrence Ranks:
   Excellent (A) 2
   Good (B) 0
   Fair (C) 0
   Poor (D) 0
   None (X) 0
   Unknown (U) 1

Location
California Endemic:  False
California Counties and Islands: Name (Code)
Del Norte (DNT), Plumas (PLU), Siskiyou (SIS)
Quads: Name (Quad Code)
Blue Nose Mtn. (3912077), China Mtn. (4112245), Polar Bear Mtn. (4112385)

Threat List Data from the CNDDB

Threat List Total: 3
EOs with Threat Listed: Total EOs % of EOs
1 33 %
Grazing 1 33%
Logging 1 33%
Other 1 33%

Notes
On review list in OR. See Systematic Botany 18(2):218-228 (1993) for information on hybridization.
Threats:
Taxonomy:

Selected References

Epilobium luteum account for potential Species of Conservation Concern evaluation (2021)
Citation California Native Plant Society, Rare Plant Program. 2025. Rare Plant Inventory (online edition, v9.5.1). Website https://www.rareplants.cnps.org [accessed 5 November 2025].