# Dwarf Fireweed (*Chamaenerion latifolium*) Dwarf Fireweed is a pretty little flower that grows in cool places like mountains. Its bright pink flowers bloom in summer, making it look like a colorful blanket on the ground. - **Category:** [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/plant) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Snaps:** 19 - **Habitat:** Mountain regions ![Dwarf Fireweed](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Chamerion_latifolium_upernavik_2007-08-06_2.jpg&width=800) Photo: Kim Hansen, CC BY-SA 3.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Chamerion_latifolium_upernavik_2007-08-06_2.jpg) ## Appearance The Dwarf Fireweed has showy, deep pink to magenta flowers, often with four broad petals, atop sturdy stems. Its broad, lance-shaped leaves are typically blue-green. Unlike other fireweeds, it is shorter and more compact, thriving in challenging, rocky environments. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Plantae - **Phylum:** Tracheophyta - **Class:** Magnoliopsida - **Order:** Myrtales - **Family:** Onagraceae - **Genus:** Chamaenerion ## Interesting facts - Early explorers often ate its fresh leaves for vitamins! - It's super tough, growing in mountains and riverbanks! - Its beautiful flowers are the official flower of Greenland! - The fuzzy seeds have tiny 'parachutes' to fly far away! ## Special abilities - **Rock Conqueror:** Dwarf Fireweed can grow in cracks and crevices of rocks, an adaptation that helps it survive where other plants can't find purchase. - **Cold Resilience:** Dwarf Fireweed has evolved to withstand freezing temperatures, helping it thrive in harsh arctic and alpine environments. - **Pollinator Magnet:** Dwarf Fireweed produces vibrant, nectar-rich flowers that attract a diverse array of insects, aiding in its reproduction. ## Measurements & details - **Height:** 10-40 cm - **Spread:** 20-50 cm - **Flower Size:** 2-5 cm - **Bloom Season:** Summer - **Edible:** Yes - **Toxicity:** None - **Lifecycle:** Perennial - **Pollination Method:** Insect ## Ecological connections - **Pollinates:** Arctic Bumblebee (*Bombus polaris*) — gathers nectar and pollen - **Pollinates:** [Small Tortoiseshell](https://www.snappit.app/explore/small-tortoiseshell) (*Aglais urticae*) — visits flowers for nectar - **Eaten by:** [Arctic Hare](https://www.snappit.app/explore/arctic-hare) (*Lepus arcticus*) — browses on leaves and stems - **Eaten by:** Reindeer (*Rangifer tarandus*) — grazes on plant parts ## Traits - [Flowering](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/flowering): Flowering plants are any plants that produce flowers as part of their reproductive cycle. - [Summer Blooming](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/summer-blooming): Summer blooming plants produce their flowers during the summer season, often providing vibrant color when many other plants have finished. - [Medicinal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/medicinal): Medicinal plants possess chemical compounds that can be used for therapeutic purposes to treat illnesses or maintain health. - [Colorful](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/colorful): Colorful describes organisms or objects displaying a wide range of bright and distinct colors. - [Edible](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/edible): Edible plants are those parts of a plant that are considered safe for human consumption. - [Pollinator Magnet](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/pollinator-magnet): Describes plants that are particularly attractive and beneficial to a wide range of pollinating organisms. - [Rapid Growing](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/rapid-growing): Rapid growing plants exhibit accelerated growth rates, quickly increasing in size and biomass within a short period. - [Mountain](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/mountain): This habitat trait identifies species found in mountainous regions, characterized by high elevation, steep slopes, and varying climate zones. ## Collections - [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/plants) ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low Always look but don't touch wild plants unless a grown-up says it's okay. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Dwarf Fireweed? Start with the whole plant, then compare leaf arrangement, leaf edges, stems and any flowers or fruit. Opposite leaves grow in pairs; alternate leaves come one at a time along the stem. These details tell you far more together than a single green leaf does. Plant Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How tall is Dwarf Fireweed? 10-40 cm ### How wide does Dwarf Fireweed spread? 20-50 cm ### How big are the flowers on Dwarf Fireweed? 2-5 cm ### When does Dwarf Fireweed bloom? Summer ### Is Dwarf Fireweed edible? Yes ### Is Dwarf Fireweed toxic? None ### What is Dwarf Fireweed's lifecycle? Perennial ## Where to spot - [Chicken Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/chicken-historic-district) — Alaska, US · Historic District - [Great Northern Railway Buildings](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/great-northern-railway-buildings) — Montana, US · Historic Site - [Gakona Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/gakona-historic-district) — Alaska, US · Historic District - [Garibaldi Provincial Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/garibaldi-provincial-park) — British Columbia, CA · State Park - [Alaska SeaLife Center](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/alaska-sealife-center) — Alaska, US · Zoo - [Bremner Historic Mining District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/bremner-historic-mining-district) — Alaska, US · Historic District [View all places to see Dwarf Fireweed](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/dwarf-fireweed) ## More Plants - [white snakeroot](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-snakeroot) (*Ageratina altissima*) - [tree-of-heaven](https://www.snappit.app/explore/tree-of-heaven) (*Ailanthus altissima*) - [western sword fern](https://www.snappit.app/explore/western-sword-fern) (*Polystichum munitum*) - [common milkweed](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-milkweed) (*Asclepias syriaca*) --- Source: [Dwarf Fireweed: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/dwarf-fireweed)