Hearts-a-Bustin' (Euonymus americanus) is actually a small shrub. In mid-to-late May these Smoky Mountains wildflowers show a charming but inconspicuous little bloom that shows little hint of the color that will come later. In September, when summer's green is...
The sunflowers family is a big one, with 20 species known to inhabit Tennessee, and 7 of those found within the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. On a tour of the Cades Cove Loop Road, you will see many of these. Early one morning recently, I made the loop,...
The Smoky Mountains photos on this page are of Yellow Fringed Orchid (Platanthera ciliaris). These stunning summer wildflowers bloom in July and August in the Smokies. The blossoms can be from bright orange to yellow, with the distinctive long fringe, most noticeable...
To celebrate summer in the Smokies, for all my blog, facebook, and twitter followers I'm offering another free image in a series of Smoky Mountains photos that can be used as a desktop wallpaper or as a screensaver. The image, and all other wallpapers, can be...
These Smoky Mountains photos show Red Elderberry (Sambucus racemosa), which is one of the wildflowers that is actually a shrub that grows to 10 feet tall. The bloom is distinguished from the Common form of Elderberries by the bright red fruit as well as a red tinge to...
St. Andrews Cross (Hypericum hypericoides) is a member of the St. Johnswort family. It's distinguished from the other Hypericum wildflowers primarily by the four petals, which form the cross, instead of the typical five petals. The blossom appears in July and August...
Southern Mountain Cranberry (Vaccinium erythrocarpum) is a member of the Heath family ... a blueberry bush with red berries! Another common name is Bearberry. It's a low bush, about 3-4 feet tall. The wildflowers photos here were taken along the Appalachian Trail...
Hypericum is another family of wildflowers with lots of species. Over 25 can be identified in Tennessee and many of these can be found in the Smoky Mountains, giving plenty of opportunities for misidentification. Therefore, the two species in the photos here are my...
There are several species of Wood Sorrel wildflowers found in the Smoky Mountains. All have the characteristic shamrock-like leaves and high concentration of oxalic acid that gives them the common name Sour Grass. The common Mountain Wood Sorrel (Oxalis montana)...
Black Cohosh (Cimicifuga racemosa) is a fairly common Smoky Mtns wildflower found in rich woods and along roadsides at low to mid-elevations. The photos on this page were taken along Newfound Gap Rd below the Chimneys Picnic Area. All of the plants in the Cimicifuga...
Purple-Fringed Orchid (Platanthera psycodes) is a stunning Smoky Mtns wildflower that favors the higher elevations. This is actually the Lesser Purple-Fringed Orchid, which grows 12 to 20 inches tall. The Greater version grows in the Blue Ridge Mountains of North...
Mid-June to July is the bloom time for the wild Smoky Mountains Rhododendrons. There are primarily two types to look for. The White, or Rosebay, variety is most often seen along the creeks at all elevations. The Purple, or Catawba, variety is more often seen at high...