FIREWEED Epilobium augustifolium
Fireweed has brilliant magenta blooms with complimentary red stems, and is Named by the fact that it can easily recover from brush fires, and quickly cover a field in it's pink blooms! It's blooms are a valuable source of nectar for butterflies and other pollinators. Fireweed is commonly found as a wildflower is much of North America, especially Minnesota, Winsonsin, Illinios, Iowa and Alaska. Fireweed is also known as Chamaenerion augustifolium. Plants make an excellent addition to the perennial garden, growing to 4' tall, and are easy to care for.
Botanical Name: Epilobium augustifolium, Chamaenerion augustifolium
Height: Up to 4'
Location: Sun or part sun
Type: Hardy perennial
Hardiness zones: 2-7
Seed size: Fireweed seeds are very small
Seeds per pack: 30
Germination: As with many perennial seeds, these seeds benefit from a period of moist cold to help them begin to grow. This is done by giving them a cold 'winter' period (artificial or natural), and then a warming to simulate 'spring', and time to grow! Here's how this can be done:
Obtain a planting container that has holes in the bottom for excess water to drain. Place the seeds just under the surface of your growing medium, and water. Place your container in a cold area (but not freezing, perhaps a refrigerator) for 4-6 weeks. Once the cold period is completed, place the container at room temperature for them to germinate. Be sure to keep the soil moist during this entire germination period. Seedlings will sprout a few weeks, or occasionally several months, after the warming period.
If you are planting your seeds in late winter or spring, these seeds can be planted outdoors while it is still cool out (once the ground is workable and unfrozen), to receive the cold period naturally in the garden.
