In areas that faced wildfire this spring, fields of purple flowers bloomed amidst the scorched trees. It plays an important role in the forest reclamation cycle, and is a plant with many uses. Simon Landhäusser is a professor at the University of Alberta who researches forest land reclamation. He said that the plant may be considered a weed in other places… but it is native to Alberta and is not overly competitive with other species. …Fireweed can serve as a high-quality food source for many animals including pollinators, deer and rabbits, Landhäusser said.” …The plant also fully dies back in the winter and decomposes quickly, Landhäusser explained. This means fireweed is not contributing to a build up of a dry thatch layer — unlike many grasses — which serves as fuel for the next wildfire.