Albino Fireweed
A yard in Achorage, Alaska, where the very rare wildflower, white fireweed, is nurtured. As a matter of fact, whenever a pink fireweed begins to bloom, the blossom is quickly extinguished to thwart cross pollination. These fireweed have a very short bloom period of about two weeks. I’m fortunate that the owner called to tip me off, or I would have missed seeing them. I’m thinking that a painting of white fireweed is in order soon.
More tomorrow,
Gail Niebrugge, Alaska wildflower painter
August 18th, 2008 at 8:35 pm
Amazing! I’ve never seen this anywhere before, wild or cultivated. I wonder how they obtained or cultured this.
August 19th, 2008 at 8:01 am
Hello DHT;
I don’t know the story behind these rare fireweed, but I do know they have been in that yard for many, many years. The yard was owned by the Stewart’s who also owned Stewart’s Photo downtown Anchorage, who are now deceased.
I ran across a white fireweed growing in the wild along the bottom of the Matanuska River, a few years ago, but it had red sepals. It was gorgeous, and I did a painting of it. These are the first all white blossoms I’ve seen.
Gail
September 8th, 2008 at 12:29 pm
My dad, in Kalskag, found fireweed that had white pedals with pink trim. Do you know why these fireweed are like that?
September 9th, 2008 at 9:52 am
Roberta;
I think they are unusual, but are natural rare occurrence. I really don’t know the botanical explanation. Perhaps some of my readers know?
Gail