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| Fireweed; Timpanogos, 7/24/2013, David Kenison |
The Fireweed supposedly received its name because it's one of the first plants that appear after a wildfire, and also often appears after ground is disturbed by machinery or avalanches; they start best when there is reduced competition.
Fireweed is from the Onagraceae family, the evening primroses. It grows throughout North America and thrives in alpine areas where there is adequate moisture and sunshine. It is known as rosebay willowherb in Great Britain, where it appeared in large quantities after the bombings of World War II. Also known as the Willow Herb and the Great Willow Herb.
This plant is spectacularly noticable in mountain terrains. The tall, prominent stalks can be up to 6' high and the top two feet are covered with clusters of flowers that range from pink to maroon—often 50 or more blossoms on a single stem. It blooms relatively late in the season, late summer and early fall, so its color sometimes stands out even further when other flowers are fading. The leaves turn scarlet in the fall, bringing further color. A single plant can produce tens of thousands of seeds, and each has a tuft of silky hairs at the end that acts as a little sail to carry it in the wind far from the parent plant. The plant also propagates from underground stems.
The silky fluff of the seed heads was used by native Americans as fiber for weaving and for padding. The young shoots, leaves, and flower bud clusters are edible and high in vitamins. Tea can be made from the leaves. Honey can be extracted from the sweet nectar of the flowers.
The Fireweed blooms from the bottom up, the full set of blossoms appearing over several weeks. A legend among Alaskan natives says that when the stalk is fully bloomed, there are six weeks until the first snow of winter. Another legend states “When fireweed goes to cotton, summer is soon forgotten.”
These photos were taken by the author at a variety of locations around Utah. Click to view enlargements.
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