Fireweed

Upper portion of a fireweed plant, in bloom, in downeast MaineFamily: Onagraceae (Evening Primrose Family)

Genus: Epilobium | Species: angustifolium

Description: This 2 to 6-ft. tall plant has a showy flower that is often the subject of many of Maine’s postcards and calendar photos. It has a terminal, spike-like cluster of deep pink/light purple flowers and narrow willow-like leaves on a tall stem. The flowers–very popular with bumblebees, hummingbirds, and hummingbird moths–are about an inch wide and have four spreading petals. There are eight stamens and a four-parted stigma at the tip of the style. The leaves are up to eight inches long, lanceolate to linear. [hardy perennial]

Habitat: Roadsides, recently cleared woodlands (especially burned-over areas, which is how it got its name);

In Bloom: July – August

A sphinx/hummingbird moth drinking nectar from a fireweed flower (sphinx moths resemble small hummingbirds)
A hummingbird moth drinking nectar from a fireweed flower (the moths resemble small hummingbirds) (also called sphinx moths)

Photos by C. Armstrong