Are Fireweed Flowers Poisonous? The Surprising Truth Behind a Common Name
                                
                                
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                                    3 min read                                
                            
                                Confusion over the edibility of "fireweed" is widespread, a problem stemming from the fact that multiple, vastly different plants share this common name. While the vibrant magenta-flowered species (rosebay willowherb) is famously edible, its yellow-flowered namesake (Madagascar ragwort) is a toxic weed that poses a serious threat to livestock and humans.