Alternate name: Dwarf fireweed, River Beauty

Family: Onagraceae, Evening-primrose view all from this family

Description A low, bushy plant with clustered stems 4-16 in. tall. They bear pairs of somewhat waxy, bluish-green, lance-shaped leaves which increase in length up the stem. The leaves subtend a terminal raceme of large, four-petaled, rose-purple flowers.

Flower June - September.

Habitat River bars; stream banks; drier, mountain talus slopes.

Range Alaska, south in mountains to e. California, Idaho, Utah, and Colorado.

Discussion Broadleaf Fireweed is a member of the evening-primrose family (family Onagraceae), which includes mainly herbs, rarely shrubs or trees with often showy flowers borne singly, in racemes or spikes, or in branched clusters. The family of about 17 genera and 675 species is found worldwide, but is especially abundant in temperate regions of the New World.