Some of the common Rocky Mountain wildflowers include Lupine, Columbine, and Indian Paintbrush. Of the hundreds of different wildflowers in the Rockies, here are the ones you are most likely to see when you go hiking or camping.
I always love to see beautiful wildflowers blooming when I go for a hike with my kids. It is so cool when we see flowers we know, kind of like seeing an old friend. The Rocky Mountains are home to a big variety of wildflowers, from yellow glacier lilies to the purple lupine and pink geraniums. Here are some of the common Rocky Mountain wildflowers you may encounter when you are out exploring.
Things To Keep In Mind About Wildflowers
Different kinds of wildflowers grow at different elevations and aspects, similar to how different trees grow better and dominate at different elevations.
For wildflowers, the elevation and aspect are important factors in influencing where they will grow, but perhaps more important is the amount of light they are exposed to. Certain wildflowers grow better in areas that receive lots of direct sunlight such as open meadows while other wildflowers grow better in shady areas, such as under trees.
One of the common Rocky Mountain wildflowers that grows well in full sun is Blue Flax. On the other hand Columbine is an example of one of the common wildflowers that grows better in shady areas.
Wildflowers begin blooming in the early spring and continue to bloom throughout the summer months into the fall with the peak generally coming mid-summer.
The reason wildflowers bloom at different times of year is to give them the best chance of getting pollinated. Pollination is the first step in creating new plants.
Common Rocky Mountain Wildflowers
Asters are lovely little flowers.
Aster
Color: Purple
Height: 1–3 feet
Bloom time: May–Oct
Habitat: Grassy meadows, rocky slopes
Light: Full sun/partial shade
Notes: The asters are the largest family of flowering plant in North America, and can be found all over the world. An old story says that burning the leaves of an aster will keep away evil spirits and snakes. This is one of the most common wildflowers in the Rocky Mountains.
Blue Flax is a delicate flower.
Blue Flax
Color: Blue
Height: 1–2 feet
Bloom time: May–August
Habitat: Plains and foothills
Light: Full sun
Notes: Each flower lasts only one day! The flower opens in the morning and blooms during the day. Then the petals fall off by evening.
There are a few different varieties, but this is the mountain bluebells.
Bluebells
Color: Blue
Height: 1–3 feet
Bloom time: June–August
Habitat: Stream banks, wet meadows, damp thickets
Light: Partial shade
Notes: Needs to be in a moist area. Looks like a group of bells together. The flowers hang upside down in small clusters
Columbine is a stunning flower.
Columbine
Color: Purple, blue, white, red
Height: 1–2 feet
Bloom time: June–August
Habitat: moist woods, open mountain meadows
Light: shade
Notes: This is not only one of the common wildflowers, but is also one of the most exquisite and beloved wildflowers in the mountains. It grows best in Aspen groves. The Rocky Mountain Columbine is the Colorado state flower.
Creeping Oregon Grape has nice yellow flowers.
Creeping Oregon Grape
Color: Yellow
Height: 12–18 inches tall
Bloom time: May, June
Habitat: Dry soil, woods
Light: Partial shade, partial sun
Notes: Edges of leaves are sharp and prickly. This is a low-growing evergreen groundcover. In the middle of summer it grows blue berries that are very sour but edible.
Fireweed is a nice flower on a tall stalk.
Fireweed
Color: Pink
Height: 3–6 feet
Bloom time: June–September
Habitat: Disturbed soils in cool areas from lowlands to mountains, along highways
Light: Full sun
Notes: Pink spires of flowers bloom at top of tall stems. Bees and hummingbirds eat their nectar. People eat the young leaves in salads.
Geranium is a pretty little pink or purple flower.
Geranium
Color: White, pink, purple
Height: 4–36 inches
Bloom time: June–August
Habitat: In the woods
Light: Partial shade
Notes: Flowers are white to pink with five petals. The petals have purple veins. Native Americans used the leaves to stop nosebleeds by crushing the leaves into a powder and putting it into their nose.
I love Indian Paintbrush. It can be so vibrant!
Indian Paintbrush
Color: Pink/red
Height: 1–3 feet
Bloom time: March–September
Habitat: Open areas, alpine to subalpine woods and slopes, rocky soils
Light: Full sun/partial shade
Notes: The roots of this plant need to hook to roots of a host plant to survive. This means that this plant will always grow next to other plants.
Lupine may be my favorite wildflower, so cool, especially if you find a field of them.
Lupine
Color: Blue, purple
Height: 1–3 feet
Bloom time: June–August
Habitat: Dry to moist valleys and mountains
Light: Full sun, partial shade, shade
Notes: Lupine (from the Latin word for “wolf ”) can be toxic. It can kill sheep and cows that eat it. It attracts hummingbirds and other birds.
Phlox is a nice ground cover with lots of flowers.
Phlox
Color: Pink, lavender, or white
Height: Up to 5 inches
Bloom time: May–August
Habitat: Widespread—shrubby slopes on foothills to above the tree line
Light: Full sun
Notes: This flower is usually pink or lavender, but can be white or blue. This is not only one of the common wildflowers, but it is also popular among gardeners to plant around their home as a flowering ground cover.
Yarrow comes in different colors and is usually easy to spot due to its unique flowers and leaves.
Yarrow
Color: White, pink
Height: Up to 24 inches
Bloom time: May–September
Habitat: Sunny areas everywhere
Light: Full sun
Notes: These flowers grow as a small cluster on a single stem. The leaves look almost like fern leaves and are narrow. The leaves are fragrant when crushed.
Yarrow leaves can stop bleeding. If you have a bloody nose, chew the leaves then put them up your nose to stop the blood!