Fireweed vs Sulphur-Flower Buckwheat - TreeTime.ca

Fireweed vs Sulphur-Flower Buckwheat

Chamaenerion angustifolium (Epilobium angustifolium)

Eriogonum umbellatum

NOT AVAILABLE THIS SEASON - MIGHT RETURN

NOT AVAILABLE THIS SEASON - MIGHT RETURN

Fireweed
Sulphur-Flower Buckwheat

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.

Sulphur-Flower Buckwheat is a native perennial wildflower known for its dense clusters of cream to yellow flowers. The long-lasting blooms persist from late spring into summer, providing an extended nectar source for a variety of pollinators. The flower buds are often red-tinted before opening. As the blooms age, they shift to orange or red, adding seasonal interest and making them well-suited to dried flower arrangements. Its seeds are also eaten by birds, adding to its ecological value.

Depending on climate and conditions, Sulphur-Flower Buckwheat may be evergreen to semi-evergreen, or its foliage may turn red during fall. Its deep roots and spreading growth stabilize rocky or sandy soils, making it useful for erosion control. Exceptionally hardy once established, it requires little care and thrives in challenging environments, making it an excellent choice for pollinator gardens, naturalization, and ecological restoration projects.

Fireweed Quick Facts

Sulphur-Flower Buckwheat Quick Facts

Zone: 1a
Zone: 3a
Height: 1.2 m (4 ft)
Height: 0.2 m (0.5 ft)
Spread: 0.6 m (2.0 ft)
Spread: 0.5 m (1.5 ft)
Light: partial shade, full sun
Light: partial shade, full sun
Moisture: normal, wet
Moisture: dry, normal
Growth rate: fast
Growth rate: medium
Life span: short
Life span: short
Growth form: upright, dense, colony-forming
Growth form: upright to spreading, clump-forming
Spreading: seeds - high, rhizomes - high
Spreading: seeds - low
Maintenance: medium


Foliage: leathery
Fall colour: reddish bronze
Flowers: pink-purple spikes
Flowers: colour varies, typically white to yellow
Bloom time: mid summer to fall
Bloom time: mid spring to mid summer
Hybrid: no
Hybrid: no
Catkins: no
Catkins: no


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