Epilobium oreganum
Oregon fireweed, Oregon Fireweed
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Family: Onagraceae · Type: Herb · Native
Conservation status: CNPS 1B.2
Epilobium oreganum (Oregon fireweed) is a native California herb in the Onagraceae family, recognized by red leaf veins and tall glaucous habit are distinctive.
Oregon fireweed is a rare (CNPS 1B.2) California native perennial found in the Klamath Ranges and northern Coast Ranges in bogs and small stream habitats at elevations of 550 to 1,800 meters. Flowering from July to August, this plant produces delicate pink to rose-purple flowers 10 to 15 millimeters long with distinctive red-tinged veins. Growing 40 to 100 centimeters tall with leafy basal shoots, it develops an open, sparsely glandular inflorescence. Its narrow-lanceolate to ovate leaves measure 30 to 90 millimeters long, with short 1 to 3 millimeter petioles and conspicuous reddish veins. The fruit is a slender 25 to 45 millimeter capsule covered in fine hairs and glandular texture.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 24 sympatric species; red leaf veins and tall glaucous habit are distinctive
Habitat and range
Habitat: Bogs, small streams
Elevation: 550-1800 m
California counties: Humboldt, Tehama, Trinity, Tulare, Sierra, Fresno, Mendocino, San Bernardino, Siskiyou, Plumas, El Dorado, Del Norte, Shasta
Outside California: southwestern Oregon
Bloom period
Epilobium oreganum blooms Jul-Aug.
Conservation status
CNPS 1B.2
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 oreganum native to California?
Yes. Epilobium oreganum is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Epilobium oreganum bloom?
Epilobium oreganum blooms Jul-Aug.
Where in California does Epilobium oreganum grow?
Epilobium oreganum occurs in Humboldt, Tehama, Trinity, Tulare, Sierra, Fresno, Mendocino, San Bernardino and other counties, at elevations of 550-1800 m.
What plant family does Epilobium oreganum belong to?
Epilobium oreganum is in the Onagraceae family, genus Epilobium.
Is Epilobium oreganum rare or endangered?
Epilobium oreganum carries California Rare Plant Rank 1B.2, state rank S2.
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.