American Burnweed
Erechtites hieraciifolius
- Native to:
- Argentina, Bahamas, Belize, Bolivia, Brazil, Canada, Cayman Is., Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Dominican Republic, El Salvador, French Guiana, Guatemala, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Jamaica, Leeward Is., Mexico, Nicaragua, Panamá, Paraguay, Peru, Prince Edward I., Puerto Rico, Suriname, Trinidad-Tobago, United States, Uruguay, Venezuelan Antilles, Virgin Islands, Windward Is.
iNaturalist: © thebirdnuts (iNaturalist #56758523)
Taxonomy
- Division:
- Magnoliophyta | - Flowering plants
- Family:
- Asteraceae
- Genus:
- Erechtites
- Species:
- Erechtites hieraciifolius
- USDA Symbol:
- ERHI12
Growth Characteristics
- Life Cycle:
- Annual
- Growth Habit:
- Forb/herb
- Height:
- 250 cm
- Drought Tolerance:
- Medium
- Bloom Months:
- jul,aug,sep,oct
- Bloom Colors:
- white, cream
Wildlife Benefits
- Bees:
- ★☆☆☆☆ Documented bee visitation (GBIF)
- Butterflies & Moths:
- ★☆☆☆☆ Documented Lepidoptera association (GBIF)
- Caterpillars:
- ★☆☆☆☆ Recorded caterpillar host plant (HOSTS Database)
Host Plant for Caterpillars
Faint-spotted Palthis Moth (Palthis asopialis), Phyllocnistis insignis
Reported Fauna Sightings
Bees: Brown-belted bumble bee (Bombus griseocollis), Common eastern (Bombus impatiens), Southern plains bumble bee (Bombus fraternus) Moths:Isabella tiger moth (Pyrrharctia isabella), Phyllocnistis insignis
Garden & Ecology Notes
- Wildlife Value:
- birds, butterflies
- Deer Resistant:
- Yes
- Fire Ecology:
- Fire adapted — tolerates or benefits from fire
- Fire Notes:
- Classic fire-follower species; seeds germinate prolifically after burns. Common name 'fireweed' reflects its rapid colonization of burned sites.
Propagation & Germination
- Stratification:
- None required
- Germination Time:
- 7–21 days
- Notes:
- Seeds germinate readily in light; often colonizes disturbed or burned areas rapidly.
The above propagation data sourced from Claude AI