Native 📍 Statewide
Fireweed
Chamerion angustifolium
Alaska's most iconic wildflower — tall spikes of brilliant magenta-pink that carpet roadsides and clearings after disturbances. Fireweed earned its name from its ability to colonize burned areas. When the flowers reach the top of the stalk, Alaskans say summer is over.
Bloom Calendar
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
🌸
Aug
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Sep
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Oct
Nov
Dec
Wildlife Relationships
🐝 Bumblebees🐝 Hummingbirds🐝 Painted Lady butterflies🐝 Moose (leaves)
Pollinator Support: Excellent — major nectar source for bumble bees and Alaska fireweed honey
Traditional & Medicinal Uses
- ✦ Young shoots eaten as spring greens
- ✦ Flowers used for jelly and wine
- ✦ Stem fibers used for rope by some Alaska Native groups
- ✦ Honey plant
* Traditional knowledge shared respectfully. Always consult experts before consuming wild plants.
Growing in Alaska
Full sun, well-drained disturbed soils. Spreads readily by rhizomes and wind-borne seeds.