Plant profile

Fireweed

Genus Chamerion

Fireweed is a tough, fast-growing wildflower in the genus Chamerion that brings bright pink blooms and lots of pollinator activity to sunny, open spaces.

Plant Type

Wildflowers (herbaceous perennials) > Fireweed

Aliases

Fireweed

Native Range

Broadly native across northern regions of North America and parts of Eurasia.

Bloom window

Summer

Overview Summary Impact Recognition Location Requirements Glossary Get Involved

OVERVIEW

About This Plant

Fireweed (genus Chamerion) is a bold, upright wildflower with bright pink blooms that can light up a sunny patch. It’s often happiest in open, naturalized areas where it can grow tall and look a little wild.

In a pollinator garden, fireweed’s many flowers can help keep the space active during the warmer months. If you’re working with a smaller garden bed, plan ahead: fireweed can produce lots of seed, so trimming seed heads is a simple way to keep it from spreading more than you want.

For school gardens and community spaces, fireweed can be a great “wow” plant—easy to notice, easy to talk about, and a good reminder that small plantings can still make a difference.

Best role for pollinators

Sunny, naturalized spaces where you want tall pink blooms and pollinator-friendly flowers with minimal fuss.

Fireweed (Chamerion spp.) — https://www.inaturalist.org/photos/271082135 Photo: (c) Douglas Goldman, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA) | CC-BY-SA | iNaturalist

FAST FACTS

Quick Details

Essential stats and requirements for quick reference.

Category	Details
Also known as	Fireweed
Bloom window	Summer
Typical height	Tall (often waist- to chest-high in good conditions)
Pollinators supported	Bees, Butterflies, Flies
Light & moisture	Sun to part sun; average moisture
Best roles for pollinators	Sunny, naturalized spaces where you want tall pink blooms and pollinator-friendly flowers with minimal fuss.

SUMMARY

If You Remember Three Things

A quick scan of what they do, what they need, and the best first step.

What they do

Fireweed adds tall, bright blooms that can help support a variety of pollinators during the growing season.

What they need

Open light, room to grow, and soil that isn’t constantly soggy.

One best action

Give it a sunny spot with a little space, and deadhead or trim seed heads if you want to limit spreading.

IMPACT

Why Plant This?

Fireweed’s tall, flower-packed stems can provide a lot of bloom in a small footprint, making it a practical choice for pollinator-friendly plantings where you want visible results.

Fireweed is famous for showing up in open ground and creating bright pink patches that are easy to spot from far away.

Key Impacts

What it Supports

Provides abundant flowers that can be visited by many kinds of pollinators.
Adds height and color to pollinator patches and naturalized areas.
Can be a good “fill-in” plant for open ground where you want quick coverage.

RECOGNITION

Identification Guide

Use these quick clues to recognize fireweed in bloom.

Leaves

Narrow, lance-shaped leaves arranged along the stem.

Flowers

Bright pink flowers clustered along a tall spike; blooms open over time up the stem.

Fruits

After flowering, forms seed pods that can release many small seeds.

LOCATION

Where It Grows

Native environments and the best spots to place it in your landscape.

Habitats

Open sunny areas
Edges and clearings
Disturbed ground and naturalized sites

Where it is often used

Pollinator patch or school garden edge
Naturalized meadow-style planting
Sunny border where taller wildflowers are welcome
Restoration-style or “let it be” areas

SEASONALITY

When It Blooms

Notes on bloom windows and how this plant helps pollinators across the seasons.

Bloom window

Fireweed typically blooms through the warmer part of the year, offering a long run of color once it gets going.

Bloom Season Role: Mid-season color and nectar in open, sunny areas

Seasonal benefits

Adds reliable color when many spring flowers are finishing
Creates a noticeable “beacon” for pollinators in open spaces

REQUIREMENTS

What It Needs

The right mix of sun, soil, and space for healthy growth.

Sun exposure

Best in full sun; can handle part sun.

Soil type

Adaptable; does well in average garden soil that drains reasonably.

Moisture needs

Water to establish; after that, water during long dry spells.

Planting method

Plant where it has room to grow tall and where you’re comfortable with a natural, slightly wild look.

Mulching tips

Use a light mulch layer if needed for weeds, but keep mulch off the crown and stems.

GARDENING GUIDE

How to Grow It

Simple steps to plant, prune, and maintain healthy trees without pesticides.

Planting tips

Choose a sunny to partly sunny spot with enough space for a tall wildflower.
Loosen the soil and remove the toughest weeds.
Plant at the same depth it was growing in its pot (or set divisions so the crown is at soil level).
Water well after planting and keep soil lightly moist until established.
Add a thin mulch layer if needed, leaving a small gap around the base of the plant.

Seasonal care

Stake only if needed in very windy spots or rich soil where stems may lean.
Deadhead or trim seed heads if you want to reduce self-seeding.
Cut back old stems after they finish, or leave some standing for winter interest and tidy up later.
Weed around young plants so they aren’t crowded while establishing.

What not to do

Planting fireweed in a small, tightly controlled bed and expecting it to stay put.
Using pesticides to deal with minor leaf damage or garden insects.
Keeping soil constantly wet.

Pairings

Best Pairings for Season-Long Bloom

Pairing ideas to keep pollinators fed throughout the growing season.

Early Bloom

Early-blooming native wildflowers (choose local species)

Mid-Season Bloom

Other summer-blooming meadow flowers (choose local species)

Late-Season Bloom

Late-season bloomers for fall color (choose local species)

If you’re gardening at a school or in a shared space, label the planting so people know it’s intentional—tall wildflowers can look “weedy” before they bloom.

GLOSSARY