Annabelle Hydrangea vs Fireweed - TreeTime.ca

Annabelle Hydrangea vs Fireweed

Hydrangea arborescens Annabelle

Chamaenerion angustifolium (Epilobium angustifolium)

COMING SOON

(new stock expected: fall of 2025)

NOT AVAILABLE THIS SEASON - MIGHT RETURN

Annabelle Hydrangea
Fireweed

Annabelle Hydrangea is a cold hardy shrub that is well known for its large, compact clusters of white flowers. Unlike other flowering species, Hydrangeas do best in partial shade. However, they are capable of growing in full sun if the soil is kept consistently moist.

Blooms occur on new wood, so regular pruning is encouraged in late winter. Try Annabelle Hydrangea as a border or on its own.

Fireweed is a native perennial wildflower known for its tall spikes of bright pink to purple blooms. Its long-lasting summer flowers are an important nectar source for pollinators such as bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds, while its seeds provide food for birds. Its showy, long-lasting display makes it visually striking in naturalized plantings.

Fireweed gets its namesake because it is often one of the first species to return after wildfires, supporting ecosystem recovery. Its wind-dispersed seeds allow it to spread readily, making it highly effective in large-scale restoration, revegetation, and naturalization projects.
Fireweed is the Provincial Flower of the Yukon.

Annabelle Hydrangea Quick Facts

Fireweed Quick Facts

Zone: 3a
Zone: 1a
Height: 1.2 m (4 ft)
Height: 1.2 m (4 ft)
Spread: 1.5 m (5 ft)
Spread: 0.6 m (2.0 ft)
Light: partial shade
Light: partial shade, full sun
Moisture: normal
Moisture: normal, wet
Growth rate: fast
Growth rate: fast
Life span: medium
Life span: short
Growth form: upright, dense, colony-forming
Spreading: seeds - high, rhizomes - high
Suckering: medium
Maintenance: medium


Flowers: white, showy clusters
Flowers: pink-purple spikes
Bloom time: mid summer to fall
Hybrid: no
Hybrid: no
Catkins: no
Catkins: no


Native to: AB, BC, SK, MB, ON, QC, NS, NB, NL, YT, NT, NU, PE
Other Names: fire weed, great willowherb, rosebay willowherb, willow herb