Plant · GBIF taxon 3188783
fireweed
Chamerion angustifoliumAlso known as Rosebay Willowherb, Great Willowherb, Bombweed
Fireweed rapidly colonizes recently burned or disturbed lands, blanketing blackened landscapes with vibrant magenta flower spikes. Tall stems open sequentially from bottom to top, offering continuous nectar for bees and hummingbirds throughout the short northern summer. Wind-blown silky seeds carry the plant far across boreal and temperate forests, ensuring quick recovery after ecological disturbance.
WildflowerFloweringColonizer
Licensed referencekallerna / CC BY-SA 3.0 · cc-by-sa
—observations
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—peak records
Least ConcernConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXLeast ConcernRed List categories, explained →
Diet & prey
- Sunlight
- Soil Minerals
- Water
Predators
- Moose
- Deer
- Caterpillars
ThreatsHabitat succession, fire suppression
HabitatsBoreal forests, burned woodlands, clearings, roadsides
Life spanPerennial (indefinite via rhizomes)
Size / weightNot available
Classification
- FamilyOnagraceae
- SpeciesChamerion angustifolium
Range data is not available yet.
Interaction riskLow
- Low
- Moderate
- High
- Very high
- Why interaction risk is low
- Safe to observe at a normal distance.
Responsible observation
- Spotting Blooms: Look for dense pinkish-purple flower spikes in open clearings during mid to late summer.
- Watching Seed Dispersal: Observe silky seed tufts drifting on breezes after dry seed pods burst open.
Pollinator (c) Azamat A. Totikov, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Azamat A. Totikov · cc-by
Pollinator Andreas Trepte / CC BY-SA 2.5 · cc-by-sa
Close Relative (c) Benoit NABHOLZ, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA), uploaded by Benoit NABHOLZ · cc-by-sa
Close Relative (c) Michel Langeveld, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Michel Langeveld · cc-by
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