Fireweed is a plant in the willowherb family. Fireweed can grow in a variety of climates. The fireweed plant is often used to reestablish vegetation in areas that have been disrupted by oil spills. Fireweed is also known by the name of Rosebay Willowherb. This plant is native to the Northern Hemisphere. There are only two species of this herb. Fireweed grows abundantly in wet, acidic soil. It can be found growing in fields or pastures. The fireweed plant can also be found growing on burned land or forest fire sites. This is how the plant got it’s name. The fireweed plant has red stems and it’s blooming flowers are pink or magenta. The fireweed grows in early spring. This plant is sometimes easily confused with members of the lily family. Fireweed can be easily identified by the veins in the leaves.
Fireweed is edible. The Native Americans use to mix the young shoots of this plant with other greens. The stems were peeled and eaten raw. Fireweed contains a good source of vitamin A and C. In some parts of the world, fireweed is mixed in dogfood. This herb was used to treat boils and cuts simply by placing a piece of stem over the infected area. The roots of fireweed have a very bitter taste. These roots were often roasted by the Native Americans. In Alaska, fireweed has many culinary uses. It is used for making candy, syrup, jelly, and ice cream. Honey is also made from this herb and it has a spicy flavor. In Russia, fireweed was used as a substitute for tea. This tea is called Kapor tea. It is still consumed today. When using any herb or plant as a remedy for health problems, please seek the advice of an expert before using.
Fireweed can grow in a variety of climates. Fireweed has often been used to reestablish vegetation in areas that have been disturbed from oil spills. This plant may soon be put to use on the Gulf Coast in the southern part of the United States where there is excessive damage occurring right now from an oil spill that happened in the Gulf of Mexico by the BP oil rig called the Deepwater Horizon. It is a suggestion that may be useful in the very near future to help repair the vegetation along the damaged coast. The growth of this plant is aggressive and widespread. It is used for habitat restoration.
