Chamerion latifolium
Dwarf fireweed
(c) Matt Muir, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Onagraceae · Type: Subshrub · Native
Chamerion latifolium (Dwarf fireweed) is a native California subshrub in the Onagraceae family, recognized by . Alpine habitat and clumping growth form distinctive.
Dwarf fireweed is a California native perennial found in northern and central Sierra Nevada in gravel bars, talus slopes, and glacial outwashes at elevations of 2,500 to 3,100 meters. Flowering from July to August, this plant produces white to pink or rose-purple flowers with a delicate, subtle color gradient. Growing in compact clusters with woody bases, it reaches heights up to 70 centimeters with a bluish-gray to densely hairy appearance. Its leaves are elliptic to widely lanceolate, 1 to 10 centimeters long, with margins and veins that may be slightly hairy. The plant produces elongated fruits 3 to 10.5 centimeters in length, ranging from nearly smooth to lightly gray-haired.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 0 sympatric species - geographically isolated. Alpine habitat and clumping growth form distinctive.
Habitat and range
Habitat: Gravel bars, talus slopes, glacial outwashes
Elevation: 2500-3100 m
California counties: Siskiyou, Mono, Tuolumne, Inyo, Tulare, Fresno, Alpine
Outside California: +- circumboreal.
Bloom period
Chamerion latifolium blooms Jul-Aug.
How to tell it apart
vs Epilobium: Chamerion has all alternate leaves; Epilobium has at least some opposite leaves lower on stem.
Frequently asked questions
Is Chamerion latifolium native to California?
Yes. Chamerion latifolium is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Chamerion latifolium bloom?
Chamerion latifolium blooms Jul-Aug.
Where in California does Chamerion latifolium grow?
Chamerion latifolium occurs in Siskiyou, Mono, Tuolumne, Inyo, Tulare, Fresno, Alpine, at elevations of 2500-3100 m.
What plant family does Chamerion latifolium belong to?
Chamerion latifolium is in the Onagraceae family, genus Chamerion.
What habitat does Chamerion latifolium grow in?
Chamerion latifolium grows in Gravel bars, talus slopes, glacial outwashes.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · Index of California Plant Names · CalPhotos
Last updated 2026-10-07
Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Cal-IPC, and more.