Coneflower (Rudbeckia laciniata var. humilis) blooms from July to October. Look for it along the Clingman's Dome Road in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. It's a large plant growing up to 5 feet tall. The yellow coneflower is more often seen at higher...
Halberd-leaved Violet (Viola hastata) is a very early bloomer in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, showing its yellow blossoms as early as late March. The name halberd actually refers to a medieval battle axe, which apparently is shaped like this delicate...
Goat's Beard (Aruncus Dioicus) is a member of the rose family, and blooms during May to July in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. You can find these plants blooming along the Rich Mountain Road, climbing out of Cades Cove, and also along Newfound Gap Rd. ...
It's that time of year when the late-spring woods are lit up with various shades of orange, yellow and red of the Flame Azalea. The large wild azalea above was found along the Rich Mountain Road above Cades Cove, and the ones below were seen along the road between Big...
Bowman's Root (Porteranthus trifoliatus) is a spring bloomer, preferring dry woods and roadsides. The most curious feature of Bowman's Root are the five uneven and twisted petals of the flower. Supposedly, the crushed root of this plant induced vomiting. Please stop...
The name Pussytoes (Antennaria neglecta) certainly conjures a soft, cute impression, and in real life, this wildflower is just that. Blooming in April and May, Pussytoes usually forms a clump of many plants. As the flower goes from bud to bloom, it's almost hard to...
Pennywort (Obolaria virginica) is a diminutive wildflower that can easily be overlooked among the fallen leaves in the Smoky Mountains forests. There is a nice colony of them at the start of the Schoolhouse Gap Trail, just to the left, blooming in mid April. Look for...
Beaked Violet (Viola rostrata) is an April blooming wildflower in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. See the beak? It's an exaggerated protrusion from the flower's lower petal. There are many varieties of violets in the Smokies, but this one is unique because of...
Spring Beauty (Claytonia caroliniana) is a quiet and reserved April wildflower of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Like so many of the early April bloomers, this one can be found along the Chestnut Top Trail. Look very low to the ground for this two-inch...
Foamflower (Tiarella cordifolia) is a knee-high woodland wildflower and a member of the same Saxifrage family as Bishops Cap. Both have delicate white blossoms on a tall leafless stalk. The leaves below the blossom stalk are reminiscent of maple leaves, and the entire...
Squirrel Corn (Dicentra canadensis) is a member of the same plant family as Dutchmens Breeches and Bleeding Heart.It's an early bloomer that appears in early April. This spring (2010) a profusion of hundreds of Squirrel Corn plants could be found along the Cove...
Wild Stonecrop (Sedum ternatum) is a member of the Sedum family. Mountain legend correlates thriving Stonecrop to the prosperity and health of a homestead. Identification is easy with the thick rubbery leaves and the black-tipped anthers. In the Great Smoky Mountains...