Fireweed
Epilobium spp.
The photo shows Chamaenerion angustifolium, also known as Epilobium angustifolium, as an example within this broader fireweed group.
- Food part reported in sources
- leaves, shoots, flowers
- B.C. seasonal planning window
- Not yet verified — no B.C. harvest months assigned
- Habitat
- Open ground; Upland habitats; Disturbed ground.
An occurrence record or historical food-use report is not permission to harvest or proof of safe preparation.
Photo: kallerna · CC BY-SA 3.0
Reference illustration. A photograph alone cannot confirm identification or edibility.
The source includes cautions about identification, preparation or quantity; review them before any food use. Species group: identify an edible member; this entry does not mean every species in the genus is edible.
Habitat in British Columbia
Open ground; Upland habitats; Disturbed ground.
Ecosystem records
Boreal Altai Fescue Alpine (BAFA); Bunchgrass (BG); Boreal White and Black Spruce (BWBS); Coastal Mountain-heather Alpine (CMA); Coastal Western Hemlock (CWH); Engelmann Spruce–Subalpine Fir (ESSF); Interior Cedar–Hemlock (ICH); Interior Douglas-fir (IDF); Interior Mountain-heather Alpine (IMA); Mountain Hemlock (MH); Montane Spruce (MS); Ponderosa Pine (PP); Sub-Boreal Pine–Spruce (SBPS); Sub-Boreal Spruce (SBS); Spruce–Willow–Birch (SWB)
UBC recorded ecosystems for the named taxa. Ecosystem records describe broad associations, not known patches or harvesting permission.
Timing and food-use notes
Not yet verified — no B.C. harvest months assigned. Weather, elevation and local conditions can change timing.
Verify the exact species, intended part and preparation with a qualified regional identifier. Months describe planning windows only.
Comparisons & Common Confusions
Do not extend tall-fireweed food use to every willowherb or every young shoot on disturbed ground. If the plant is too immature to identify confidently, return later for a flowering observation.
Plan the Outing
FNHA’s traditional-food resource records spring fireweed shoots. Local elevation and growth stage matter more than a calendar month. Confirm access and avoid uncertain roadside or sprayed sites.
Handling & Kitchen Notes
Keep any proposed food use tied to the exact identified species and part. Use a complete preparation reference and explain those choices if contributing a recipe. This profile makes no medicinal claims.
References
Repeated source URLs are combined above. A source may support more than one fact; it is not counted as independent verification twice.