Wildflowers of the Rocky MountainsThe distribution of vegetation in the Rocky Mountains correlates directly to elevational changes, which influence the temperature and availability of moisture. Different plant communities characterize each zone (such as foothill, montane, subalpine, and alpine) from the base of a mountain to the top, and each zone may contain several types of plant communities. More than 5,000 plant species occur in the Rocky Mountains. The wildflowers begin to bloom in early spring, as soon as the snow starts to melt. The peak bloom season is mid-summer. This collection highlights some of the most common wildflowers found in the Rocky Mountains. |
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Thumb | Species | Characteristics | ||
Aquilegia coerulea Colorado Blue Columbine, Rocky Mountain Columbine |
Duration: Perennial Habit: Herb Light: Shade Water: Moist |
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Arnica cordifolia Heartleaf Arnica, Heart-leaf Leopardbane |
Duration: Perennial Habit: Herb Light: Part-shade Water: Moist |
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Balsamorhiza sagittata Arrowleaf Balsamroot, Arrow-leaf Balsamroot |
Duration: Perennial Habit: Herb Light: Sun Water: Moist |
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Calochortus nuttallii Sego Lily, Mariposa Lily, Sego-lily |
Duration: Perennial Habit: Herb Light: Sun Water: Dry |
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Caltha leptosepala White Marsh-marigold, Elks-lip |
Duration: Perennial Habit: Herb Light: Part-shade Water: Wet |
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Campanula rotundifolia Bluebell Bellflower, Bluebell Of Scotland, Bluebell, Harebell, Witches' Thimble |
Duration: Perennial Habit: Herb Light: Sun, Shade, Part-shade Water: Dry |
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Cardamine cordifolia Heartleaf Bittercress |
Duration: Perennial Habit: Herb Light: Shade Water: |
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Castilleja rhexiifolia Splitleaf Indian Paintbrush, Rosy Indian Paintbrush |
Duration: Perennial Habit: Herb Light: Part-shade Water: Dry |
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Chamerion angustifolium Fireweed, Willow Herb, Great Willow Herb |
Duration: Perennial Habit: Herb Light: Water: |
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Dasiphora fruticosa ssp. floribunda Shrubby Cinquefoil, Golden Hardhack, Potentilla |
Duration: Perennial Habit: Shrub Light: Sun Water: Dry |
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Delphinium barbeyi Subalpine Larkspur |
Duration: Perennial Habit: Herb Light: Shade Water: |
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Dodecatheon pulchellum Darkthroat Shooting Star, Few-flower Shooting Star, Western Shooting Star |
Duration: Perennial Habit: Herb Light: Part-shade Water: Moist |
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Erysimum capitatum Sand-dune Wallflower, Western Wallflower, Prairie Rocket |
Duration: Biennial Habit: Herb Light: Sun Water: Dry |
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Gaillardia aristata Common Gaillardia, Great Blanketflower, Blanketflower, Brown-eyed Susan |
Duration: Perennial Habit: Herb Light: Sun Water: Dry |
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Gentiana calycosa Rainier Pleated Gentian |
Duration: Perennial Habit: Herb Light: Part-shade Water: Moist |
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Ipomopsis aggregata Scarlet Gilia, Scarlet Standing-cypress, Skyrocket, Skunkflower |
Duration: Biennial Habit: Herb Light: Part-shade Water: Dry |
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Lewisia rediviva Bitter Root, Oregon Bitter-root |
Duration: Perennial Habit: Herb Light: Part-shade Water: |
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Linum lewisii Wild Blue Flax, Prairie Flax, Lewis Flax, Lewis's Flax |
Duration: Perennial Habit: Subshrub Light: Sun Water: Dry |
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Lupinus sericeus Silky Lupine |
Duration: Perennial Habit: Herb Light: Sun, Shade, Part-shade Water: Moist, Dry |
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Mertensia ciliata Tall Fringed Bluebells, Tall Fringe Bluebells, Mountain Bluebells |
Duration: Perennial Habit: Herb Light: Part-shade Water: Wet |
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Mimulus lewisii Purple Monkeyflower, Great Purple Monkeyflower, Lewis Monkeyflower, Lewis's Monkeyflower |
Duration: Perennial Habit: Herb Light: Part-shade Water: Wet |
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Monarda fistulosa Wild Bergamot, Beebalm |
Duration: Perennial Habit: Herb Light: Sun, Part-shade Water: Moist, Dry |
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Orthocarpus luteus Yellow Owl's-clover |
Duration: Annual Habit: Herb Light: Sun Water: |
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Pedicularis groenlandica Elephanthead Lousewort |
Duration: Perennial Habit: Herb Light: Sun Water: Moist |
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Penstemon angustifolius Broadbeard Penstemon, Broadbeard Beardtongue, Whorled Penstemon, Whorled Beardtongue |
Duration: Perennial Habit: Herb Light: Sun Water: |
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Phacelia sericea Silky Phacelia, Purple Fringe |
Duration: Biennial Habit: Herb Light: Part-shade Water: |
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Phlox pulvinata Cushion Phlox |
Duration: Perennial Habit: Herb Light: Water: |
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Phyllodoce empetriformis Pink Mountain Heath, Pink Mountain Heather |
Duration: Perennial Habit: Shrub Light: Part-shade Water: Moist |
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Primula parryi Parry's Primrose |
Duration: Perennial Habit: Herb Light: Water: |
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Pulsatilla patens Eastern Pasqueflower, American Pasqueflower |
Duration: Perennial Habit: Herb Light: Sun Water: Dry |
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Ranunculus eschscholtzii Eschscholtz's Buttercup, Subalpine Buttercup |
Duration: Perennial Habit: Herb Light: Sun Water: |
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Scabrethia scabra ssp. scabra Badlands Mule-ears |
Duration: Perennial Habit: Herb, Subshrub Light: Water: |
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Sedum lanceolatum Spearleaf Stonecrop, Lanceleaf Stonecrop |
Duration: Perennial Habit: Herb Light: Sun Water: |
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Symphyotrichum spathulatum var. spathulatum Western Mountain Aster |
Duration: Perennial Habit: Herb Light: Water: |
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Tetraneuris grandiflora Graylocks Four-nerve Daisy, Old-man-of-the-mountain, Alpine Sunflower, Rydbergia, Bitterweed |
Duration: Perennial Habit: Herb Light: Sun Water: Moist |