Rosebay Willow Herb

  • Irish name: Lus na tine

  • Scientific name: Chaemaenerion angustifolium

The rosebay willow herb is a showy , tall and vigorous plant. It is wide spread around Ireland, Europe and America. It has four petalled pink flowers. The rosebay willow herb flowers from June through to September. The leaves are similar in appearance to willow leaves hence its name. In times gone by, the fermented leaves of the willow herb was made into tea and in some regions of Russia it is drunk as a herbal tea. The leaves, stems and roots were also cooked as a vegetable. Some people still make a syrup from it. This herb is a great source of nectar for bees and it is one of the elephant hawk moths’ larval food.