Funny Nature & Travel Art & Stage Going Viral Science Greetings Inspirational

Edit Profile Recently Viewed Favorites

Main > Nature & Travel > Nature

The Many Colorful Wildflowers of the Smoky Mountains

Edited By: Violet T.

Font Size:

A+ A-

For 7 to 10 days in late April, just as Spring springs forth, the Great Smoky Mountains National Park organizes a week-long pilgrimage through the park. This annual pilgrimage takes travelers on the long and winding mountain paths with the specific purpose of viewing the gorgeous wildflowers that bloom in the Spring season. This mountain range is known for its incredibly diverse ecosystem, most notably of which are its wildflowers, flowering plants native (and in some cases endemic) to this landscape. The Smoky Mountains contains over 1400 identified species of wildflowers, meaning flowers that have not been introduced or intentionally planted, and that the area in question is their natural habitat. Walk through a veritable rainbow of wildflowers, courtesy of the Smoky Mountains!

1. Wild geranium, also known as spotted geranium or wood geranium (Geranium maculatum)

Colorful wild flowers found in the Smoke Mountains region, Wild geranium, also known as spotted geranium or wood geranium (Geranium maculatum)

(By PhotoDoc, Wikimedia Commons)

2. Bloodroot (Sanguinaria canadensis)

Colorful wild flowers found in the Smoke Mountains region, Bloodroot (Sanguinaria canadensis)

(By UpstateNYer, Wikimedia Commons)

3. The Fire Pink (Silene virginica)

Colorful wild flowers found in the Smoke Mountains region, The Fire Pink (Silene virginica)

(By Jason Hollinger, Wikimedia Commons)

4. The Little Brown Jug (Hexastylis arifolia)

Colorful wild flowers found in the Smoke Mountains region, The Little Brown Jug (Hexastylis arifolia)

(By Halpaugh, Wikimedia Commons)

Colorful wild flowers found in the Smoke Mountains region, The Little Brown Jug (Hexastylis arifolia)

(Flickr)

5. The Squirrel Corn (Dicentra canadensis)

Colorful wild flowers found in the Smoke Mountains region, The Squirrel Corn (Dicentra canadensis)

(By James St. John, Wikimedia Commons)

6. Purple Phacelia, also known as purple tansy, blue tansy or lacy phacelia (Phacelia tanacetifolia)

Colorful wild flowers found in the Smoke Mountains region, Purple Phacelia, also known as purple tansy, blue tansy or lacy phacelia (Phacelia tanacetifolia)

(By Walter Siegmund, Wikimedia Commons)

Colorful wild flowers found in the Smoke Mountains region, Purple Phacelia, also known as purple tansy, blue tansy or lacy phacelia (Phacelia tanacetifolia)

(By Walter Siegmund, Wikimedia Commons)

7. Dwarf Larkspur (Delphinium tricorne)

Colorful wild flowers found in the Smoke Mountains region, Dwarf Larkspur (Delphinium tricorne)

(Flickr)

8. The Mayflower, also known as the trailing arbutus (Epigaea repens)

Colorful wild flowers found in the Smoke Mountains region, The Mayflower, also known as the trailing arbutus (Epigaea repens)

(Flickr)

9. The Flame Azalea (Rhododendron calendulaceum)

Colorful wild flowers found in the Smoke Mountains region, The Flame Azalea (Rhododendron calendulaceum)

(Flickr)

Colorful wild flowers found in the Smoke Mountains region, The Flame Azalea (Rhododendron calendulaceum)

(By Jason Hollinger, Wikimedia Commons)

10. The Bleeding Heart, also known as the wild or fringed bleeding-heart, turkey-corn (Dicentra eximia)

Colorful wild flowers found in the Smoke Mountains region, The Bleeding Heart, also known as the wild or fringed bleeding-heart, turkey-corn (Dicentra eximia)

(By Jason Hollinger, Wikimedia Commons)

11. The Dwarf Crested Iris (Iris cristata)

Colorful wild flowers found in the Smoke Mountains region, The Dwarf Crested Iris (Iris cristata)

(By Drew Avery, Wikimedia Commons)

12. Eastern spring beauty, also known as the Virginia springbeauty, grass-flower or fairy spud (Claytonia virginica)

Colorful wild flowers found in the Smoke Mountains region, Eastern spring beauty, also known as the Virginia springbeauty, grass-flower or fairy spud (Claytonia virginica)

(By Kaldari, Wikimedia Commons)

13. Roundleaf yellow violet (Viola rotundifolia)

Colorful wild flowers found in the Smoke Mountains region, Roundleaf yellow violet (Viola rotundifolia)

(Flickr)

14. Sweet beth, also known as the sweet wakerobin (Trillium vaseyi)

Colorful wild flowers found in the Smoke Mountains region, Sweet beth, also known as the sweet wakerobin (Trillium vaseyi)

(Flickr)

15. The Birdsfoot Violet, also known as the bird's-foot violet or mountain pansy (Viola pedata)

Colorful wild flowers found in the Smoke Mountains region, The Birdsfoot Violet, also known as the bird's-foot violet or mountain pansy (Viola pedata)