Fireweed

Fireweed (Chamaenerion angustifolium) is in the evening primrose family family (Onagraceae). Across the U.S., iNaturalist users have logged 13,446 research-grade flowering observations of it in our sample, peaking in July.

Nationally it blooms mainly from July to August, but timing varies a lot by state and elevation — see the table below.

When to photograph Fireweed: observations by month (U.S.)

About Fireweed

Chamaenerion angustifolium is a perennial herbaceous flowering plant in the willowherb family Onagraceae. It is known in North America as fireweed, in some parts of Canada as great willowherb, in Britain and Ireland as rosebay willowherb. In the United Kingdom it is also known as bombweed, as a result of its rapid appearance on city bomb sites during the Blitz of World War II.: 112  It is also known by the synonyms Chamerion angustifolium and Epilobium angustifolium....From Wikipedia via iNaturalist — article, CC BY-SA.

Fireweed by state

Main season = months with at least 30% of the state's peak-month count.

Related wildflowers (evening primrose family)

California fuchsiaEpilobium canum

PinkladiesOenothera speciosa

BrowneyesChylismia claviformis

Ruby Chalice ClarkiaClarkia rubicunda

Winecup ClarkiaClarkia purpurea

California primroseEulobus californicus

Broadleaf Enchanter's NightshadeCircaea canadensis

Elegant ClarkiaClarkia unguiculata

Photography tips

• Photograph flowers on calm, overcast mornings to avoid wind blur and harsh shadows.
• Get low: a shallow depth of field (f/2.8–f/5.6) isolates a bloom against soft color.
• Stay on trails — trampling meadows kills plants and ruins next year's display.
• Try a kaleidoscope abstract of a single bloom with our online kaleidoscope tool.

FAQ