Fireweed vs Nuttalls Sunflower - TreeTime.ca

Fireweed vs Nuttalls Sunflower

Chamaenerion angustifolium (Epilobium angustifolium)

Helianthus nuttallii

CUSTOM GROW

NOT AVAILABLE THIS SEASON - MIGHT RETURN

Fireweed
Nuttalls Sunflower

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.

Nuttall’s Sunflower is a native perennial wildflower known for its bright, golden-yellow blooms. Flowering from mid to late summer, it offers a late-season nectar source for various bees, butterflies, and other pollinators, while the seeds provide a fall food source for birds. The upright growth habit adds structural height and visual variety to your landscape.

Nuttall’s Sunflower can be found growing in moist to wet meadows, prairies, and open spaces. It can spread quickly via underground rhizomes, making it ideal for large-scale plantings. It is well-suited for naturalization, soil stabilization, riparian zones, and wetland restoration projects. If planting in smaller urban yards or gardens, extra care and maintenance will be required to limit its spread.

Fireweed Quick Facts

Nuttalls Sunflower Quick Facts

Zone: 1a
Zone: 2b
Height: 1.2 m (4 ft)
Height: 1.2 m (4 ft)
Spread: 0.6 m (2.0 ft)
Spread: 0.5 m (1.5 ft)
Light: partial shade, full sun
Light: full sun
Moisture: normal, wet
Moisture: normal, wet
Growth rate: fast
Growth rate: fast
Life span: short
Life span: short
Growth form: upright, dense, colony-forming
Growth form: upright, colony forming
Spreading: seeds - high, rhizomes - high
Spreading: rhizomes - medium, seeds - low
Maintenance: medium


Flowers: pink-purple spikes
Flowers: golden yellow, daisy-like
Bloom time: mid summer to fall
Bloom time: late summer to early fall
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, SK, MB
Other Names: fire weed, great willowherb, rosebay willowherb, willow herb
Other Names: common tall sunflower