... Over 4 inches. Look closely to see the five, up-turned petals on each flower. It’s leaves are opposite and lanceolate (long and narrow), without prominent veins. A way to share information and photos with other people who love to find the first blooms of native plants throughout Virginia. A perfect addition to part and full-shade woodland gardens, plant Virginia Bluebells to see … The fields and roadsides are ablaze with tall, colorful, conspicuous wildflowers. I frequently see it growing on the eroded banks of roads and trails as I am out walking in the forest. Finally! Eupatorium or Eutrochium Here’s a tall native wildflower that has large, serrated, whorled leaves and masses of rose pink blooms in late summer. The complicated structure, complete with wing-like sepals, resembles a flying bird or airplane. This week it is coming up on the hillside at my house and near the…, Dodecatheon meadia Shooting Stars! If you don't carry a ruler you can use a quarter which is an inch in diameter. I literally stumbled on this low-growing phlox as I walked along the banks of Big Stoney Creek at Glen Alton in mid-May. Dianthus armeria - Deptford Pink, Mountain Pink. And most of us know that the plant’s name is derived from the fact that it produces a milky-white, sticky…, Platanthera grandiflora Ooo-la-la!! US Wildflower's Database of Wildflowers for North Carolina Click on thumbnail for larger version of image, scientific name for detail page. Scroll down for more great spring wildflower … The clusters are stacked on an erect, 4-sided stem that is distinctly wooly. Flower width: For round and flattish flowers, the … The pink, red or white flowers are borne on a spike at the top of the plant. Look what I found! The area would best be described as “open” woodlands. Unlike many of the other phlox species in our area, mountain phlox blooms early (mid-May to…, Clematis addisonii Addison’s Leatherflower, Clematis addisonii, is a threatened species that is native to the Ridge and Valley Province in Virginia. Like all members of the snapdragon group, monkeyflower has 2 lips that surround an open “mouth”. Wild geranium…, Galearis spectabilis is the Showy Orchis! Then I took a couple steps closer and nearly…, Prince’s Pine, Pipsisewa, Wintergreen, or Waxflower Chimaphila umbellate This is a very attractive native perennial that can be found in dry, mountain woodlands growing along side other kinds of wintergreen (like Striped Wintergreen , Round-leaved Pyrola, or American Wintergreen). The central yellow style is split in two, adding a festive “pop” to the center of the flower. The visually interesting flower…, Teucrium canadense Often observed in large, showy colonies, American Germander is a tall perennial (2-3 ft) in the mint family that blooms in mid-summer. Georgia owes its diversity of wildflowers in part to its range of habitats, from the mountains of the southern Appalachians, down through the hilly piedmont region, into the flat coastal … At the base of each petal is a splash of yellow outlined in red; the net effect is a delightful star pattern. It is called the Crane-fly Orchid. The pink … The wild pink (Silene … Don’t you think it must be beautiful there? May 19, 2018 - Explore Jackie Brotosky's board "West Virginia Wildflowers", followed by 389 people on Pinterest. The sepals behind the…, Leonurus cardiaca Here’s a very tall, sturdy member of the mint family–Motherwort! Wild geranium…, Fringed Polygala or Gaywings Polygala paucifolia At first glance, the color and texture of this flower call to mind an orchid. Suddenly the evening temperatures dropped into the 50’s and the breezy, pleasant afternoons called for long sleeves. Here are nine of the wildflowers native to the state: 1. Put on your hiking shoes and head up any Appalachian mountain trail (right now!) Roll that weather forecast into a long, Labor Day weekend, and needless to say, we had to get out for a few hikes in…, Gaura biennis If you are still hunting for summer beauty, look no further. Like all mints, it has a 4-sided stem. This evergreen shrub can put on a spectacular display, since it varies in height from 3 to 15 feet and forms thick…, Phlox glabberrima Here’s a showy “hot pink” wildflower that is coming into bloom in May. Bladder Campion This member of the pink family has white flowers … The folks at Wikipedia report that all the members of the genus Centaurea share…, Echinacea purpurea When you see the word Echinacea, you probably think “cold remedy”. Our favorite place to see Virginia bluebells is on an easy hike at Riverbend Park in Great Falls, Virginia. Montropa hypopithys Popping up from below the forest leaf litter–look at this: is it a plant? The flower was wrongly identified when…, Silene vulgaris Here’s a very tall, perennial plant that is new to me! Note the reddish, square stems covered in fine hair, and the variety of leaf shapes from the bottom of the plant (5 lobes) to the top of the plant (2-3 lobes). The pink to white flowers are waxy-looking…, Dianthus armeria Demure and understated, discovering this bright little flower blooming among the grasses makes me dream of going to Deptford! 116 Maroon, brown, black. Of all the native plants that have made their way from the field to the medicine cabinet, this one is probably one of the most famous. Pinesap, like Indian Pipe, is a non-photosynthetic flowering plant that gets its energy from organic matter…, Centaurea Imagine a genus with 500+ species in it… Then imagine how intimidating it is to name a flower in this group to species! May is the time for pink azaleas (Rhododendron spp.) Virginia Bluebell’s gorgeous flowers start out as lovely, pastel pink buds and open up into vivid, true blue blooms. In flower it is…, Silene vulgaris Here’s a very tall, perennial plant that is new to me! Very Small. Orange. It was actively cultivated in gardens. In contrast to other phlox species, the stem of Smooth Phlox is not hairy, hence the name “smooth”. Cypripedium acaule One of the showiest orchids in our local forest, the pink lady’s slipper appears between May and July. Today I found drifts of them growing along the roadside next to Big Stoney Creek in Giles County. The leaves (see photo below) are opposite,…, Monarda There are many species of Monarda, but all have the following things in common: the plants have square stems; the leaves are simple, serrated, opposite, and have petioles; there is a distinct smell of mint when the leaves are crushed; the large flowers arise from a whorl, and sometimes the whorls are stacked up…, Asclepias syriaca Milkweed is an interesting plant on a variety of levels. Put on your hiking shoes and head up any Appalachian mountain trail (right now!) The rosy pink or purple flowers…, Claytonia caroliniana and Claytonia virginica There are two kinds of Spring Beauties in our area. The stem is hairy and the leaves are alternate and lance-shaped, slightly toothed…, Lathyrus latifoliés Everlasting Pea, Perennial Sweet Pea You’ve seen this plant before! Before it flowers, you may notice the leaves lying quietly on the forest floor: there are usually just two of them, and strong parallel veins are evident on the oval leaves. On first glance, I thought it was “just Phlox”, which started to bloom in the woods near Blacksburg recently. Spiderwort loves light shade to full sun, producing purple, three … The purple-pink blossoms were buzzing with bumblebees at the end of May. It is tall and delicate, oddly conspicuous, yet almost invisible to the eye. The lovely pink to white flowers are sweetly marked –each of the 5 petals…, Follow VIRGINIA WILDFLOWERS on WordPress.com. The roots and leaves of Purple Coneflower, whose genus name is Echinacea, have long been used to treat…, Mimulus ringens Monkey flower is a tall native wildflower that is fond of wet places. Most of us already know that monarch butterfly larvae feed exclusively on milkweed leaves, which renders the caterpillars and butterflies toxic to predators. Size. The single pair of leaves on this small plant are ovate to lanceolate; the margin is entire. The…, Kalmia latifolia Run, don’t walk! The leaves have strong venation and are opposite, ovate to lanceolate, and serrated. It’s leaves are … Each flower has 5 pink petals and 5 stamens with yellow anthers. Two petals are joined together to make a tube; a third, lower petal is fringed. It likes limey soils like we have here in Montgomery County, and it is often found on the edges of swampy terrain. But in drying fields and along fencerows and roadsides, the tall, spiny remnants of teasel delight the eye. Like Putty-root Orchid, the crane-fly orchid has a 2-part life cycle. So in the interest of avoiding an error, I’ll stop at the genus level on this one. Virginia’s relatively mild weather and different kinds of soil makes it a perfect place for a great variety of wildflowers. The list follows the growing season: spring flowers are first, then summer and fall. An extract made from the juice of the plant was used to create suds when washing clothes–hence the name soapwort. On first glance, I thought it was “just Phlox”, which started to bloom in the woods near Blacksburg recently. While searching for something else, I practically stumbled on this little pink firebomb up in the woods at Mountain Lake. Height: Full height of the mature plant, in feet. While searching for something else, I practically stumbled on this little pink firebomb up in the woods at Mountain Lake. 1007 Blue, purple. Sweet! Centaurea Imagine a genus with 500+ species in it… Then imagine how intimidating it is to name a flower in this group to species! The plant prefers dry, rocky, limestone hillsides, banks and ravines. I went straight home to look it up in my field guide, since I never encountered it before. I’ve been stalking it for a month now, waiting for it to come into bloom. The plant prefers dry, rocky, limestone hillsides, banks and ravines. They occur in clusters of up to 30 flowers at the top of a single flowering stalk. The leaves are opposite and entire. I went straight home to look it up in my field guide, since I never encountered it before. The sepals behind the…, Kalmia latifolia Run, don’t walk! Turtlehead enjoys life…, Triadenum virginicum  September arrived in Blacksburg this week on the heels of cold front. In contrast to other phlox species, the stem of Smooth Phlox is not hairy, hence the name “smooth”. Although it is indeed introduced from Europe, and probably even England, it is not really from the town of Deptford. Agalinis tenuifolia (Gerardia tenuifolia) Slender Gerardia is a native annual that grows to about 2 feet in height. The folks at Wikipedia report that all the members of the genus Centaurea share…, Asclepias syriaca Milkweed is an interesting plant on a variety of levels. The common…, Triphora trianthophora Last summer, in the month of August, I discovered the diminutive Three Birds Orchid on a mulched path in my neighbor’s garden. Then I took a couple steps closer and nearly…, Prince’s Pine, Pipsisewa, Wintergreen, or Waxflower Chimaphila umbellate This is a very attractive native perennial that can be found in dry, mountain woodlands growing along side other kinds of wintergreen (like Striped Wintergreen , Round-leaved Pyrola, or American Wintergreen). Familiar cultivars with names like Bridal Wreath, Gold Flame, Little Princess, and Neon Flash grace gardens across the South. Prince’s Pine has shiny-green, leathery, whorled leaves that are toothed. Summer is the … Morning dew will delight your eye as it glistens on the dried clusters long after the flowers fade. Believe it or not, Joe Pye weed is a composite…. By Marion Blois Lobstein . Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center at the University of Texas at Austin: Perhaps the most comprehensive native wildflower … From…, Asclepias incarnata Pretty enough for any garden, the deep pink blossoms of this summer milkweed beg you to stop and smell the flowers! Flowering from mid-spring through early summer, spiderwort (Tradescantia virginiana, USDA zones 3 through 9) is hardy throughout Virginia. 592 Green, transparent. In the fall (October), the…, Now is a great time to go outside for a walk and learn a bunch of new wildflowers– all at one time! 669 talking about this. You can’t deny its gorgeous allure…sometimes pink, sometimes white, and sometimes so dark in color that it looks magenta, this member of…, Tipularia discolor Updated August, 2017. Although flowers may be easy to measure, the size often varies. The upper lip has 2 frilly lobes and the lower lip has 3 lobes. Look at those balloon-like flowers! Rose-pink … This orchid miraculously appears on the forest floor in April and May in Virginia. *=Multiple images on detail page: Search Our Database: … But in drying fields and along fencerows and roadsides, the tall, spiny remnants of teasel delight the eye. The Latin name memorializes John Clayton, the first Virginia botanist. The genus, Erigeron, includes scores of species, but I’ll take a chance and say that the one pictured here is Philadelphia fleabane, because of the way the leaves are wrapped around the hairy…, Wood Geranium, Cranesbill, or Wild Geranium Geranium maculata  What a spring it is for wild geranium! Fire pink flowers are borne at the top of the 10-12 inch plant. You will not have to hunt for them–many of these species grow 3 to 7 feet tall! Dozens of individual blooms are borne on stout umbels at the top of a 2-5 ft. tall plant. At the base of…, Originally posted on VIRGINIA WILDFLOWERS: Triphora trianthophora Flowering colony of Three Birds Orchid Last summer, in the month of August, I discovered the diminutive Three Birds Orchid on a mulched path in my neighbor’s garden. Most of the blossoms are blue, but you’ll see pink, white, and mixed colors if you look closely. The rose-pink hue of the flower is really astounding. Ranging in height from 4 to 8 inches, Violet Wood Sorrel is what you might call a “stemless” plant. They occur in clusters of up to 30 flowers at the top of a single flowering stalk. If you are familiar with Indian Pipe, you might guess that these two organisms are related, and you’d be right. Although these were open-grown, I also found plenty growing in the woods around Glen Alton and White Rocks campground. If you squeeze the two lips together you can make…, Saponaria officianalis Early settlers brought seeds of soapwort to the U.S. from Europe. The 1-inch flowers have 5 white petals, but each petal is split to look like two. Biennial Gaura is a dainty showstopper that has been blooming for months and could continue until frost. It is known for its distinct brilliant red flowers. This spring-blooming, perennial plant has a basal rosette of oblong leaves, each about 6 inches long and 2 inches wide. in May and June and you will  be rewarded with gorgeous Mountain Laurel blooms. Addison’s Leatherflower is a perennial vine that starts out as an erect…, Wood Geranium, Cranesbill, or Wild Geranium Geranium maculata  What a spring it is for wild geranium! This time of year, you might find it with your nose first–it has a sweet fragrance that permeates the…, Follow VIRGINIA WILDFLOWERS on WordPress.com. Look what I found! Blue. This tall, native plant can reach 4 to 6 feet in height. Among pink flowers, one of the most familiar is the spring beauty (Claytonia virginica). Flower color, main. It was built as a partnership with the Flora of Virginia project , a massive flora of over 3,100 Virginia … Look at those balloon-like flowers! Although these were open-grown, I also found plenty growing in the woods around Glen Alton and White Rocks campground. Spring beauty (Claytonia virginica) is one of the loveliest and most easily recognizable of our early spring wildflowers.Its genus name Claytoniawas assigned by Linnaeus to honor John Clayton, one of Virginia… So in the interest of avoiding an error, I’ll stop at the genus level on this one. Earlier in the summer, teasel produces inconspicuous white, pink or purple flowers … About 1/4 inch. The tubular, pinkish flowers occur in whorls…, Penstemon laevigatas Jason Turman pointed out this mass of beardtongue flowers growing along a roadside at Primland. In contrast to other phlox species, the stem of Smooth Phlox is not hairy, hence the name “smooth”. A kind of fungus? Before it flowers, you may notice the leaves lying quietly on the forest … About 3/4 inches. The flowers, borne on long pedicels, are light to dark pink with purple spots inside. This evergreen shrub can put on a spectacular display, since it varies in height from 3 to 15 feet and forms thick…, or Moccasin Flower Cypripedium acaule One of the showiest orchids in our local forest, the pink lady’s slipper appears between May and July. Each flower has 5 pink petals and 5 stamens with yellow anthers. Most of the remaining populations occur here in Montgomery County (Southwest VA). See more ideas about wild flowers, west virginia, virginia. The leaves are long and narrow (lance shaped) and covered with sticky hairs. There are literally hundreds of varieties of wildflowers in the southern Appalachian Mountains. Although it is indeed introduced from Europe, and probably even England, it is not really from the town of Deptford. Contrast this flower arrangement with Steeplebush…. In sunny spaces, both in back yards and open fields, Perennial Sweet Pea, or Everlasting Pea, is a staple of summer. See the gallery…, Eupatorium or Eutrochium Here’s a tall native wildflower that has large, serrated, whorled leaves and masses of rose pink blooms in late summer. Don’t you think it must be beautiful there? *=Multiple images on detail page Search Our … The central yellow style is split in two, adding a festive “pop” to the center of the flower. Smooth phlox flowers are deep pink and they are about a half to…, Phlox latifolia Big flowers on a little stem! US Wildflower's Database of Wildflowers for Virginia Click on thumbnail for larger version of image, scientific name for detail page. Blooming begins in March and continues into late October and early November. Brown. This perennial evergreen herb is another forest floor inhabitant that could easily go unnoticed due to its size. Some authorities consider this plant, a European native, to be weedy or invasive. West Virginia Native Plant Society "Dedicated to the conservation and appreciation of West Virginia's native plants and habitats." About 1/2 inch. Most of these have flat or rounded clusters of pink or white flowers in early summertime. Today I found drifts of them growing along the roadside next to Big Stoney Creek in Giles County. The plant was also called “Bouncing Bet”, after the old-timey name for a wash woman. Prince’s Pine has shiny-green, leathery, whorled leaves that are toothed. Phlox glabberrima Here’s a showy “hot pink” wildflower that is coming into bloom in May. Apparently the orchid often bears…, Clinopodium vulgare or Satureja vulgaris Wild basil is a hairy mint with pointed oval leaves and clusters of pink to purple flowers. The pink to white flowers are waxy-looking…, Dianthus armeria Demure and understated, discovering this bright little flower blooming among the grasses makes me dream of going to Deptford! The large leaves can grow 2-5 inches in length. Dipsacus As summer takes a curtain call, new blooming flowers are harder to come by. Most of the remaining populations occur here in Montgomery County (Southwest VA). The 1-inch flowers have 5 white petals, but each petal is split to look like two. They…, Chelone Fishmouth, snakemouth, turtlehead…  The common names of this flower come from the 2-lipped shape, which calls to mind an animal’s gaping mouth. All the leaves are opposite and the venation is strongly defined. From pink peonies to pink roses, you'll find photos & info on 21 different types of pink flowers. It is August, and there is a mysterious orchid blooming in the woods right now. Earlier in the summer, teasel produces inconspicuous white, pink or purple flowers on an oval cone of spines. That’s because each leaf emerges directly from the ground on a long petiole (there is no stem). What a great name! 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