Epilobium howellii
Subalpine fireweed
(c) Chris Winchell, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Onagraceae · Type: Herb · Native
Conservation status: CNPS 4.3
Epilobium howellii (Subalpine fireweed) is a native California herb in the Onagraceae family.
Subalpine fireweed is a California native perennial herb found in northern and central Sierra Nevada Mountains in wet meadows and mossy seeps at elevations of 1,950 to 2,700 meters. Flowering from July to August, this plant produces small white flowers about 2 to 3 millimeters long with nodding flower buds. Growing less than 20 centimeters tall with loosely clumped stems that are densely glandular-hairy, it spreads through short, thread-like stolons. Its leaves range from round or ovate on the lower stem to lanceolate higher up, measuring 4 to 20 millimeters long with rounded or obtuse tips and sparse strigose hairs. The delicate plant produces fruits 35 to 45 millimeters long on slender pedicels, making it a distinctive component of high-elevation mountain meadows.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: Geographically isolated from all other species
Habitat and range
Habitat: Wet meadows, mossy seeps
Elevation: 1950-2700 m
California counties: Sierra, Nevada, Fresno, Tuolumne, El Dorado
Bloom period
Epilobium howellii blooms Jul-Aug.
Conservation status
CNPS 4.3
How to tell it apart
vs Penstemon: Epilobium has 4 notched petals and opposite leaves; Penstemon has 5-lobed tubular flowers (snapdragon family).; vs Gambelia: Epilobium has 4 notched petals; Gambelia has 5-lobed tubular snapdragon-like flowers.; vs Fuchsia: Epilobium has notched petals spreading flat; Fuchsia has dangling tubular flowers with protruding stamens.; vs Keckiella: Epilobium has 4 notched petals; Keckiella has 5-lobed tubular snapdragon-like flowers.; vs Diplacus: Epilobium has 4 notched petals; Diplacus has 5-lobed tubular monkey flowers.
Frequently asked questions
Is Epilobium howellii native to California?
Yes. Epilobium howellii is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Epilobium howellii bloom?
Epilobium howellii blooms Jul-Aug.
Where in California does Epilobium howellii grow?
Epilobium howellii occurs in Sierra, Nevada, Fresno, Tuolumne, El Dorado, at elevations of 1950-2700 m.
What plant family does Epilobium howellii belong to?
Epilobium howellii is in the Onagraceae family, genus Epilobium.
Is Epilobium howellii rare or endangered?
Epilobium howellii carries California Rare Plant Rank 4.3, state rank S4.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · CNPS Rare Plant Inventory · Index of California Plant Names · CalPhotos · CDFW CNDDB
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.