SafePlants

Fireweed (Chamerion angustifolium)

Chamerion angustifolium, commonly known as fireweed (mainly in North America), great willow-herb (some parts of Canada), and rosebay willow-herb or rosebay willowherb (mainly in Britain), is a captivating perennial herbaceous plant.

Considerations for Pets

• The text indicates that Fireweed (Senecio madagascariensis) is toxic to livestock.

Taxonomy and Nomenclature

• Scientific Name: Chamerion angustifolium
• Common Names: Fireweed, Great Willow-herb, Rosebay Willow-herb, Rosebay Willowherb, Giant Showy Willow Herb
• Family: Onagraceae (Willowherb or Evening Primrose Family)
• Genus: Epilobium
• Symbol: CHAN9
• Group: Dicot
• Growth Habit: Forb/herb

Distribution and Habitat

• Fireweed is native from the sub-Arctic down the Rocky Mountains, across the upper Midwest, and down the Appalachians to Georgia.
• It occurs throughout the US, except in the southeastern states and Texas, and is found in all Canadian provinces.
• Fireweed is one of the first plants to appear after a forest or brush fire and rapidly covers cleared scrub or woodland areas. It also grows well in clear-cuts and roadsides.

Ecological Role

• Fireweed is a pioneer species, meaning it's one of the first to colonize disturbed areas.
• Its tiny seeds are carried by the wind, allowing it to spread quickly to new locations.
• In coastal New South Wales (NSW), Fireweed is considered a serious pasture weed and forms a persistent seedbank.
• Another plant referred to as Fireweed (Senecio madagascariensis) is a declared pest under Queensland legislation.

Morphological Characteristics and Growth Habits

• Fireweed is a tall perennial herb.
• It has willow-like leaves and red stems, similar to other plants in its genus.
• It's characterized by its stunning magenta blossoms.
• The plant is a perennial, growing from widespread rhizome-like roots that freely form new shoots.
• It has a spike-like cluster of pink to purplish flowers with 4 paddle-shaped petals and a long white style.
• Fireweed blooms in early summer in warmer areas with a long growing season, and later in the summer in cooler, boreal areas.

Interactions with Other Organisms

• Fireweed is a valuable source of nectar, so much so that beekeepers in Canada sometimes relocate their hives to fireweed-rich areas during the blossoming season.

Resources and Further Information

• Extension Faculty Health, Home and Family Development. Fireweed. FNH-00106 by Roxie Rodgers Dinstel and Leslie Shallcross.
• The Wildflowers of British Columbia, Canada. Identifying Fireweed.
• Potential Distribution Map and Best Practice Management Guide available.