Edible Wild Plants of the North Cariboo

Fireweed

Submitted by: Heloise Dixon-Warren

Edible Wild Plants of the North Cariboo

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Fireweed

Submitted by

Heloise Dixon-Warren

Plant Names - Common	FIREWEED
Plant Name - Latin (Scientific)	Chamerion angustifolium formerly known as Epilobium angustifolium
Plant Name - Indigenous	Secwepemc	ts̓ixnéllp
	Dakehl	khas̲t'an
	Tsilhqot’in	gunŝ

Botanical Description	Fireweed is a perennial herbaceous flowering plant. It is also referred to as willowherb due to its leaves that resemble willows. It has a widespread rhizome-like root and grows in colonies.
Leaves	Alternate, narrowly lanceolate, (5) 10-15 (20) cm long, entire or finely toothed, green, veiny below; nearly stalkless.
Stems	Height: 1-3 metres

Flowers	Deep pink to magenta (purple) with flowers clustered at the top of the stems. Blooms begin at the base of the cluster and mature up the stem as the season progresses.
Seeds	Dispersal by wind. In the late summer/early fall, thousands of seeds that fly on little silky tufts can be seen.
Habitat and Range	Common in open forests and disturbed areas (e.g. burned sites, alongside roads) and adjacent to riverbanks and forests. Has a wide range from foothill/montane regions to alpine and subalpine.

Parts Used	Shoots and stems can be eaten raw or boiled. Young leaves and flowers are edible raw. Flower bud clusters can be cooked as vegetable. Stem pith can be added to soup as a thickener. Flowers used in jellies. Fireweed nectar is popular with beekeepers. Leaves used in tea (fermented).
Harvesting Practices	Can be harvested throughout the growing season. Spring is the optimal time to harvest the young shoots. Leaves can be picked from the time they appear until they are hit by frost in the fall. Flowers are best picked once they have bloomed all the way to the end of the stalk.
Special Considerations / Notes	During a fire, fireweed rhizomes often survive the burn and quickly grow again the following summer. The underground network helps stabilize burned or logged soil from eroding, and the plants recycle nutrients back into the earth.

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