Wildflowers Of The Blue Ridge Parkway

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The Blue Ridge Parkway is a wildflower lover’s paradise, offering a huge variety of native species during spring, summer and fall. Photograph them, sketch them, or simply enjoy the view, but all of the park resources are protected – leave them for others to enjoy.

Blue Ridge Parkway Wildflower Bloom Schedule

The following list is a highlight of some of the most popular wildflowers, their months in bloom, and places along the Parkway where you can find them. Depending on your elevation and north/south orientation, some species can be found blooming over a considerably long period of time. As you will notice, peak bloom in Virginia will usually be earlier than in North Carolina due to elevation.

Common Name Peak Bloom Milepost Location
Allegheny Blackberry May-June 6, 167.2, 239.9, 305-315, 339.5, 367.6
American Elder June-July 29, 85.8 Picnic Area, 136-138, 272-275, 311.2
Angelica Aug-Sep 294.7, 339.5, 355, Craggy Gardens, Nature Trails
Aster Sep Common in fields and along roadside.
Bead Lily May-June Common in rich, moist deciduous woods.
Beard-Tongue June-July 44.4, 89-91, 154.5 Picnic Area, 254.4, 339-340, 370-372
Bellflower July-Sep 370-375
Bergamot Beebalm July-Aug 38.8, 368-374
Birdfoot Violet Mar-May 147.4, 202, 260.5, 379
Black Cohosh July 6, 85.8 Picnic Area, 169 Picnic Area, 374
Black Locust Apr-June 100-123, 367-368, 383
Black-Eyed Susan July Common in fields and along roadside.
Bladder Campion May-Aug 376-381
Blazing Star Aug-Sep 305.1, 369-370
Bloodroot Apr-May 85.6, 191-193, 198.7, 294
Bluets May-June 200.2, 355-368 Picnic Area
Boneset Aug 29.1, 85.8 Picnic Area, 151, 247, 314
Bowman’s Root May-June 24-25, 149.5, 260, 332, 368-369
Bristly Locust May-June 167-174, 308.3, 347.9
Bull Thistle Late June-frost Common alongroad sides & pastures at lower elevations.
Butter and Eggs June-Aug Common along roadsides and waste places.
Buttercups Mar-June Common along roadside
Butterfly Weed June-Aug 63-65, 238-246
Cardinal Flower Aug Frequently in wet places
Carolina Rhododendron Late Apr-June 308-310, 404-411
Catawba Rhododendron June 44.9, 77-83, 130.5, 138.6, 239, 247, 266.8, 348-350, 364.1
Columbine May-July 74-75, 339.3 Picnic Area, 370-378
Common Milkweed July-Aug 85-86, 167-176
Coreopsis June-Aug 29.6, 77, 157, 190, 306
Crested Dwarf Iris Apr-May 195, 198, 210, 217, 250.8, 273.4, 379
Dandelion Feb-June Common along roadsides.
Deptford Pink June-Aug Common along grassy roadsides.
Dodder or Love Vine Aug-Sep Common along roadside
Dogwood May 6, 85.8 PA, 154.5 PA, 230-232, 217-219, 378-282
Dutchman’s Breeches Apr-June 367.6 Picnic Area, 458.2-Heintooga Spur Rd.
Dwarf Iris Mar-Apr 260.5
Eastern Redbud Late Apr-May 54-68
False Hellebore June-Aug 364.6, Craggy Gardens Nature Trails
False Soloman’s Seal Apr-June Common along roadside
Fetterbush Late Apr-May 241.1, 379
Field Hawkweed May-June 6, 78.4, 165.5, 229.5, 325-330
Fire Pink May-June 1-2, 85.8 Picnic Area, 154.5 241 Picnic Area, 339.3 Picnic Area, 367-375, 404-408
Flame Azalea May-June 138.6, 144-145, 149.5, 164-166, 217-221, 308-310, 368-380, 412-423
Fleabane July Common in fields and along roadside.
Fly Poison May-July 210-216, 406-408
Foam Flower Apr-June 296.9, 339.5, 367.7 Picnic Area
Fragrant Thimbleberry June-July 18, 74.7, 339.3 Picnic Area 369-372, 406-408
Fraser Magnolia May 173-174, 252-253
Fringed Phacelia Apr-May 370-375
Galax May-July Common in deciduous forests, open rocky areas.
Gentian Late Aug-frost 85.8, 363-368
Goat’s Beard June 10-11, 24, 240, 337.6, 370-375
Golden Ragwort Apr-May 29.1, 85.8 Picnic Area, 330-340
Goldenrod Sep Common in fields and along roadside.
Great Chickweed Apr-May Common in rich, moist woods.
Hawthorne May-June 155-176, 365.6, 368
Heal All Apr-frost Common along roadside
Indian Paintbrush Apr-May 369-371
Ironweed Aug 245, 248
Jack-in-the-Pulpit Apr-June Common in woodland areas
Jewel Weed Aug Common along roadside in wet areas.
Joe-Pye Weed Aug 6, 85.8 Picnic Area, 146, 248, 339.3 Picnic Area, 357-359
Large Flowered Trillium May 3-7, 64-85, 154.5 PA, 168-169, 175, 330-340, 370-375
Mayapple Mar-Apr 76.2-76.4, 296-297, 315-317, 320.8, 339.5
Mountain Ash June-July (bloom) Sep-Oct (berry) Higher elevation spruce-fir forests, Mt. Mitchell, Mt. Pisgah.
Mountain Laurel Late May-June 130.5, 162.9, 347.9, 380, 400
Mullein June-Sep Common along roadside on dry banks.
New Jersey Tea May-June 42-43, 91-100, 138.4, 197, 211, 241, 328.6
Nodding Lady Tresses Aug-frost 365-368
Oriental Bittersweet May-June Aug-Sep (berry) 242.4, 383, 394, 396
Oswego Tea July-Aug Common in wet areas at higher elevations.
Oxeye Daisy July Common in fields and along roadside.
Phlox May-July 4, 79-82, 163-164, 200-202, 219-221, 339.3 Picnic Area, 370-380
Pinkshell May-June 305.2, 342-343, 349-351, 419-424
Pinxter Flower Apr-May 4, 92-97, 138.6, 145.5, 154.5 PA, 162.9, 211.6, 217-222, 350-351, 412-423
Pokeweed Aug 6, 74.7, 151, 239.9, 323, 376.9
Princess Tree Apr-May 100-123, 381-382, 396, 400
Queen Anne’s Lace May-Sep Common along open fields and roadside.
Red Berried Elder May-June 355-360, 369, 412-425, higher elevations in rich, moist woods.
Serviceberry / Sarvis Mar-May 241-242, 294-297, 308.3, 347.6, 368-370
Silver-Bell Tree Mar-May 344.1-355.3
Skunk Cabbage Feb-Mar 176.1, 185.8, 217.0
Small’s Ragwort May-June 29.1, 85.8 Picnic Area, 330-340
Sneezeweed Aug-Sep 29.1, 85.8 Picnic Area, 176.1, 229, 313-314
Soloman’s Seal Apr-May Common on moist wooded slopes, coves.
Sourwood June-July 102-106, 231-232, 321-327, 375-380
Spiraca June-July 368-378
Spring Beauty Mar-Apr Craggy Picnic Area
Squirrel Corn Apr-May Craggy Picnic Area, 458.2- Heintooga Spur Rd.
Staghorn Sumac May-June Common along roadside in dry, rocky areas.
Starry Campion July-Sep 378-380
Sundrop June 8-10, 89-91, 229, 270.6, 351-352, 355-360, 370-375
Tall Coneflower July-Aug 36, 161.2, 228.1, 314, 359-368
Tall Meadow-Rue July 85.8 PA, 155.2, 248
Tree of Heaven June, July-Oct (berry) 382, common along roadside in Virginia.
Trillium Apr-May 175, 200-216, 339-340, 364.6
Tulip Poplar Apr-May Common in low woods and coves.
Turks-cap Lily June-Aug 187.6, 364-368, 406-411
Viper’s Bugloss June 14732
Virgin’s Bower Aug 13.1, 85.8 Picnic Area, 176.1, 285-289, 313-314
Virginia Spiderwort Late May-July 85.8 Sharp Top Trail, 380-381
White Rhododendron June-July 162.9, 169 Picnic Area, 232-233, 339.3 PA, 352-353, 455-456
White Snakeroot July-Oct Common along roadside.
Wild Geranium May-June 84-86, 170-172, 211.6, 375
Wild Strawberry Mar-June Common along roadside
Witch Hazel Late Sep-Oct 130.5, 293.3, 295.4, 305.1, 308.3, 339.5, 347.6, 367.7
Witch Hobble (Hobblebush) Apr-June, Aug for fruit 295.5, 362-367, higher elevations in rich, moist woods.
Yarrow July Common in fields and along roadside.
Yellow Ironweed Sep-Oct 6, 88, 154.5, 271.9, 330.8

Photo Gallery of Blue Ridge Parkway Wildflowers

Recommended Blue Ridge Mountain Wildflower Guidebooks

Nature Guide to the Blue Ridge Parkway A Falcon Guide by Ann & Rob Simpson

The stunning wildlife along the Blue Ridge Parkway attracts more than 14 million annual visitors from near and far for viewing and photographing opportunities. This information-packed, pocket-size field guide features more than 200 species of mammals, birds, insects, fish, wildflowers, mushrooms and more in a convenient, portable package.

Book Details Buy Now

Southern Appalachian Wildflowers a Falcon Guide Wildflower Series by Barbara & Victor Medina

A field guide to common wildflowers of the Southern Appalachian Mountains, including Great Smoky Mountains National Park, the Blue Ridge Parkway, and the Chattahoochee National Forest. Full-color photographs and line drawings will help you identify over 300 common wildflower species.

Book Details Buy Now

Wildflowers of the Appalachian Trail 2nd Edition, by Leonard M. Adkins

Wildflowers of the Appalachian Trail, is a necessary companion for anyone interested in the wildflowers found along the fables 2,175-mile-long Appalachian National Scenic Trail.

Book Details Buy Now

Wildflowers of the Blue Ridge and Great Smoky Mountains by Leonard M. Adkins

Using full-color photography and expertly crafted prose, Wildflowers of the Blue Ridge and Great Smoky Mountains turns a day hike or drive through our nation’s most beautiful and rugged expanse of forested mountains into an object lesson in the stunning beauty of nature.

Book Details Buy Now

Resources

Plants for a Future Database(http://pfaf.org/user/plantsearch.aspx)PFAF is a charitable company that provides information on edible and otherwise useful plants suitable for growing outdoors in a temperate climate. The Plant Database was begun over ten years ago and currently consists of approximately 7.000 plants.

U.S. Department of Agriculture PLANTS Database(http://plants.usda.gov/)The PLANTS Database provides standardized information about the vascular plants, mosses, liverworts, hornworts, and lichens of the U.S. and its territories.

U.S. Forest Service Celebrating Wildflowers(http://www.fs.fed.us/wildflowers/)This site is dedicated to the enjoyment of the thousands of wildflowers growing on our national forests and grasslands, and to educating the public about the many values of native plants.

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