French-willow Care

Chamaenerion angustifolium, traditionally known as Saint Anthony's Laurel amongst other variants, is a perennial herbaceous flowering plant in the willowherb family Onagraceae. It is native throughout the temperate Northern Hemisphere.

Chamerion angustifolium, commonly known as fireweed, is a robust strongly-spreading, rhizomatous perennial wildflower that grows to 2-5’ tall on upright, often reddish, primarily unbranched, stiff woody stems clad with alternate, narrow-lanceolate or linear, pinnately-veined, willow-like leaves (to 2-6” long and 3/4” wide) and topped by an elongated terminal cluster (raceme to 3-8” long) of open, saucer-shaped, 4-petaled, bright pink to lilac-purple (rarely white) outward-facing flowers with protruding stigmas which bloom in summer (June-September). This plant is circumpolar, being native throughout the temperate Northern Hemisphere. In North America, it is found in a variety of locations including open woods, roadsides, open fields, pastures, prairies, hills, damp ravines, logged and burned areas, and especially along streams, in damp places and on disturbed sites from low valleys to tree line in the mountains. It can have invasive roots.