Description

Key Information:

Soil: Mesic (Medium)
Sun: Full Sun to Part Sun
Height: 2-6 feet
Bloom Color: Pink – Purple
Bloom Season: June – September

More Details:

Suggested Uses:  Fireweed has showy, beautiful spires of lavender to pink flowers.  They are excellent for restoration purposes where there is competition and environmental factors to keep them in check. These rhizomatous plants can be aggressive and that should be kept in mind when planting. Grows well under evergreens.

Native Range:  Native to the West, the Upper Midwest and New England. Native to Canada and Alaska too. They grow well in subalpine zones and bloom in picturesque fields of purple, often at the base of mountains.

Pollinators: Predominantly bees but attracts butterflies too.

Flowers: The 1″ flowers have 4 petals, 8 stamens and a 4-parted stigma. They bloom in a loose spike-like cluster at the top of the plant.

Leaves: The lance-shaped or linear leaves are up to 8″ long.

Interesting Facts:

Food Uses: The young shoots and leaves can be cooked as greens. Older leaves can be dried and used as tea.
Name: It is called Fireweed for its ability to regrow quickly after a fire.
Other Names: Chamaenerion angustifolium.
More information: USDA plant profile