Dwarf Ginseng (Panax trifolius) is a tiny plant. The photos on this page make it seem larger than it is. In reality it is something like a white gumdrop lying on the forest floor!
The globe-like blossom at the end of a single stem is known as an umbel. This variety of Ginseng has no “medicinal” properties, like its cousin Panax quinquefolius.
Please stop in at the William Britten Gallery in Gatlinburg to see the complete collection of Smoky Mtn photos. If you are a Facebook user, join the discussion on the Smoky Mountains Wildflowers page.
Wild Columbine (Aquilegia canadensis) is a delicate and beautiful presence all along Little River Rd in the Smoky Mountains during April. Look opposite of the river, along the rock walls that border the road. Their pale orange and yellow colors actually blend into the surroundings as you drive by, but if you stop at almost any of the pullouts along the road, you will see plenty of Columbine. It can grow up to four feet tall, but most of the plants are closer to two feet.
The common name Columbine means “dove,” and the genus name Aquilegia means “eagle.” These names allude to the upper part of the blossom, which resembles the talons of these birds. In fact, the Columbine was proposed as the National wildflower because of its eagle-like properties.
The deep blossoms are pollinated primarilly by hummingbirds.
For taking photos of Columbine, the dark backdrop of a rock wall makes for impressive contrast. In springtime, these walls often drip with seepage, making the wildflowers even more colorful and fresh.
The William Britten Gallery along Glades Rd in Gatlinburg has a wonderful collection of Smoky Mountains photos. Come on in and pick out a Smokies memory for your home!
Bleeding Heart (Dicentra eximia) is the largest, rarest, last to bloom, and probably the most stunning of the Smoky Mountains Dicentras. The other two in this family are Dutchman’s Breeches and Squirrel Corn. The word “dicentra” in Greek means “two-spurred,” and describes the unique shape of the blossoms.
The photos on this page were all taken along Laurel Creek Rd, about a mile west of the entrance to Tremont. This wildflower loves to find a foothold on the rock walls that border the road. Look for the distinctive blooms in April. Another sure spot to find them is along Abrams Falls Trail. About halfway to the falls there is a rock wall along Arbutus Ridge.
Note the foliage of this wildflower, which is common to all three of the Dicentras. Spotting this foliage is often the best way to locate these plants.
Bleeding Heart is a Smoky Mountains wildflower that is not often seen, and its rarity only adds to the appreciation of its beauty.
The William Britten Gallery on Glades Rd in Gatlinburg offers the full display of my Smoky Mountains photos. I’d love to have you come in for a visit to chat about wildflowers or browse the collection to find a mountain memory for your home.
If you are a wildflower enthusiast, please join the discussion on the Smoky Mountains Wildflowers page on Facebook. You’ll find lots of tips on where and when to locate these little treats.
Porters Creek Trail in the Greenbrier area of the Smoky Mountains is in peak bloom for spring wildflowers right now. The upper portion of the trail, from the long footbridge over the creek on up to Fern Falls, has a stunning ground cover of Fringed Phacelia. I counted over 20 species of wildflowers along Porters Creek Trail this past Saturday. You can’t see it from the photo above, but the Fringed Phacelia are interspersed with Bishops Cap, making a wonderful white bouquet.
Fern Falls is about a two-mile hike from the trail-head. During summer this falls is often dry, but after some spring rains it is flowing nicely. The jumble of boulders below the falls seems to be a perfect environment for Wild Ginger, Saxifrage, Bishops Cap, and Squirrel Corn.
Just below the footbridge that takes you into Fringed Phacelia fantasyland, I spotted one lone Painted Trillium beside the trail.
The lower portion of the trail was not as dramatic as the upper part, but there were nice clumps of Foamflower, and Wood Anemone, lots of Toothwort of both varieties and a few Wild Geraniums. Also a few very nice colonies of Crested Dwarf Iris. And finally, a few Showy Orchis just starting to bloom along the trail, and one in full bloom as you exit the parking area.
If you’d like to follow along with the wildflower season, and you are a Facebook user, please consider becoming a fan of my Smoky Mountains Wildflowers page on Facebook.
And if you’re in the area on a vacation, please stop in at the William Britten Gallery on Glades Rd in Gatlinburg, where all of my Smoky Mountains photos are on display.
Wood Anemone (Anemone quinquefolia) is a Smoky Mountains wildflower that is fairly common in moist woodlands, blooming in early April. The photos above and below were taken in the White Oak Sinks area of the Smokies. This species puts out a single blossom, which is often tinged with pink as above. The flower has little nectar to attract pollinators, but lots of pollen. At night or on rainy days you may find the blossom closed to protect the interior reproductive system.
This species is easy to differentiate from Rue Anemone by it’s leaves. Rue has a distinctive mitten-like leaf, while the Wood Anemone usually has a cluster of three (sometimes five) basal leaves. It also has a just a single flower, while Rue has from one to five.
All of the Anemones are named for the Greek God of the winds, Anemos. They have a habit of waving in the breeze (don’t all wildflowers?) and are sometimes called windflowers.
The hike to Spruce Flat Falls in the Tremont section of the Smoky Mountains is one of my favorite outings. Last weekend I headed up the trail once more, this time with my daughter Sarah and her husband Paul, my four grandsons and brand new grand-daughter in a papoose!
It was a beautiful Saturday after a cold, rainy week, and the spring wildflowers were out big-time along the one mile route to the waterfall. Almost any Smoky Mountains hillside is brightened up at this time of year with beautiful blooms. I started pointing out the Rue Anemone, Bloodroot, and Beaked Violet. When we got to a clump of Pussytoes, my grandsons thought the name was hilarious, and that sparked an interest in watching for more wildflowers. Rylan and Cale especially were determined to learn the names and spot new flowers along the trail.
The part of the trail that skirts along a ridge with great views of Walker Valley and the Middleprong below was especially full of Trailing Arbutus in full bloom.
It was a great Smoky Mountains hike, and by the time we got back to the starting point, the boys had learned to identify at least seven wildflowers! I stopped in at the GSMA store at the Smoky Mountains Institute and bought a wildflower identification book for them. Now they’re plotting the next wildflower hike.
Cohen, Cale, Rylan, Grampy and Lakin starting the Spruce Flat Falls trail
My daughter Sarah took the photo above. She’s got more over on her It’s a Boys Life blog. Here she is below with Annika.
Sarah and Annika
If you plan a Smoky Mountains getaway, please stop in at the William Britten Gallery on Glades Rd in Gatlinburg to see the full collection of Smoky Mountains photographs.
Trout Lily (Erythronium umbilicatum) is an early spring bloomer that can be found before the trees leaf out in the lower elevations of the Smoky Mountains. However, I have seen it blooming much later near the 6000 foot level along the Clingman’s Dome Road.
Trout Lily often forms large colonies by way of their root system, making a very attractive display in moist wooded areas. The leaves are a long, elliptical pair with the distinctive brown mottling that gives the flower its common name. Another common name is Dogtooth Violet – dogtooth referring to the hard white roots.
This wildflower performs a unique function in nature. Their roots retrieve phosphorus from the soil and transfer it to the leaves. Grazing wildlife such as deer eat the leaves for a valuable source of the mineral.
After your wildflower pilgrimages, please stop in and visit me to see the complete display of Smoky Mountains Photography at the William Britten Gallery in Gatlinburg, TN.
Sweet White Trillium (Trillium simile) is the white form of Wakerobin Trillium, and is also called White Wakerobin. In the lower elevations of the Smoky Mountains this large trillium usually blooms in late March or early April. Sweet White Trillium can be identified by its dark purple center surrounded by yellow stamens. Stands of Trillium simile can be found along many trails, including Chestnut Top and Meigs Creek. These stands bloom before the common White Trillium that are so plentiful on Smoky Mountains hillsides all over the Park during April.
There is some conflict among wildflower authorities as to the distinction between the Sweet White Trillium (T. simile) and the Erect Trillium (T. erectum), aka “Wake Robin” which has red(purple) and white forms. Some consider T. simile to be a variety of T. erectum while others view it as a distinct entity. This conflict is evident in two of the more common Smoky Mountain wildflower books, “Wildflowers of the Smokies” published by the GSMA and “Great Smoky Mountains Wildflowers” by Hutson, Hutson, & Sharp. Perhaps the most significant distinction between the two is the odor. Wake Robin has a foul odor, hence it’s other common names Stinking Willie, Stinking Benjamin, and Wet Dog Trillium. Sweet White Trillium does not have this unpleasant odor.
When you’re ready for a break from wildflower scavenger hunts, please consider a visit to the William Britten Gallery in Gatlinburg. We’re out on Glades Rd on the historic Arts and Crafts Loop. Also, you can join the discussion of Smoky Mountains wildflowers on Facebook. You can post your own photos and share trail information.
The calendar has turned towards warmth and renewal, the Smoky Mountains trails are shaking off their winter drowse, and once again we are headed towards the great spring wildflower pilgrimage. This is an exciting time of year when the trails seem to change on a daily basis.
Bloodroot (Sanguinaria canadensis) is a delicate, subtle beauty that blooms in late March or very early April in the lower elevations of the Smoky Mountains. As the bloom is short-lived, the plant is most easily identified by its distinctive multi-lobed leaf. There is a great cluster of Bloodroot near the start of Porters Creek Trail and along the Chestnut Top trail. Look for the bloom to start in mid-March.
This wildflower gets its name from the reddish sap found in the root. The sap was used by settlers for dye, and was also used as an herbal remedy, although modern knowledge suggests caution for the toxicity of Bloodroot, even for external use.
The bloom is short-lived, and will typically not unfurl until the day warms up.
The photo above was taken along the Chestnut Top Trail on March 20, 2011. The photo below was found near the Porters Creek trailhead on a cold, wet day that kept the bloom from unfolding. Notice the distinctive leaf in the photo below, that is the easiest way to spot this wildflower.
Please stop in and visit me to see the complete display of Smoky Mountain Photography at the William Britten Gallery in Gatlinburg, TN. You can follow William Britten’s daily Smoky Mountains blog posts on Facebook. Click the “Like” button for the daily feed into your Facebook account.
The gorgeous wildflower above is a Showy Orchis (Galearis spectabilis) photographed near the Porter’s Creek trailhead. Wildflower season is finally here again!
The wildflower season is just getting started. As of Monday, March 14th, here’s what’s happening on the Chestnut Top Trail, one of the best wildflower trails in the Smoky Mountains.
There’s an army of Bloodroot ready to unfurl their flags. These should be in full display by the weekend. The photo above shows the only bloom I could find open. The one below is what I saw dozens of.
But the bonus is way up the trail, a half-mile after you think there are no more wildflowers, after the trail levels off and makes a sharp turn to the left, and still a hundred yards after that. There’s a large group of Trailing Arbutus just starting to bloom.
Hepatica (Hepatica acutiloba) is one of the earliest Smoky Mountains wildflowers. The pictures above and below were taken on March 8th along the Cove Hardwoods Nature Trail. On that day Hepatica was the only one of the wildflowers to be seen on the trail!
Hepatica is a member of the buttercup family and comes in two varieties in the Smoky Mountains: sharp-lobed (picture above) and round-lobed (picture below). These terms refer to the shape of the leaf. The plant can be found in rich woodlands and banks. A petite single bloom with 5-12 sepals sits atop a hairy stem. It’s really hard to miss these wildflowers when almost nothing else is blooming!
The word Hepatica means “of the liver.” These wildflowers are often called Liverwort and were presumed to have curative effects for ailments of the liver. The color of the bloom ranges from white to pink, lavender, purple and pale blue. The plant and bloom are quite tiny and might be nearly invisible were it not for the bare landscape at the time of their blooming.
If I don’t see you out on the wildflowers trails, please stop in at the William Britten Gallery in Gatlinburg in the Morning Mist Village Shops on Glades Rd. My complete collection of Smoky Mountains pictures is on display.
False Foxglove (Aureolaria laevigata) is an early autumn wildflower that blooms in September. It seems to be especially attractive to bumble bees, and on early morning walks there is always a loud buzzing as I pass by the cheerful bright yellow foxgloves. The bumble bees will stuff themselves way down inside the blossom, like the one pictured to the right.
This plant is also known as “oak leech” due to its parasitic feeding on oak tree roots.
Please stop in and visit me to see the complete display of Smoky Mountain Photography at the William Britten Gallery in Gatlinburg, TN.
In Greek mythology, the goddess Astraea wept as she ascended into the heavens to become the constellation Virgo. Where her tears touched the Earth, Asters sprouted.
Wildflowers of the Aster family brighten up the landscape in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park in the autumn season. You can see them everywhere, along roadsides and trails.
Sneezeweed, or Bitterweed (Helenium amarum) is a common and pretty roadside summer wildflower. If cows eat this plant, their milk will taste bitter, giving the plant one of it’s common names. From the name Sneezeweed, you might assume a summer allergy problem. The name actually comes from Native Americans practice of using the dried flower heads as snuff.
Pink turtlehead (Chelone lyonii) favors wet areas like seeps and stream banks. The image above was taken along the Clingman’s Dome Road in the Great Smoky Mountains where water was draining from the steep bank above it.
The botanical name Chelone derives from the Greek word for turtle. If you examine the bloom closely, it resembles a turtle shell with a head peeking out. Insects are lured down into the opening for pollination.
Please stop in and visit me to see the complete display of Smoky Mountain Photography at the William Britten Gallery in Gatlinburg, TN.
False Dragonhead (Physostegia viginiana) is also called the Obedient Plant. Notice the way the flower buds line up perfectly in a column. If you twist the bloom, it will stay put, being obedient. For this reason, and because they are long-lasting, the plant is often cultivated for cut flower arrangements.
False Dragonhead blooms from July-October, favors moist habitats, and can grow over six feet tall. It is a member of the Mint family.
Please stop in and visit me to see the complete display of Smoky Mountain Photography at the William Britten Gallery in Gatlinburg, TN.
Flowering Spurge (Euphorbia corollata) is a large, bushy plant with many small flowers. It favors fields, roadsides, and open woods. The picture above was taken along the Cades Cove Loop Road in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. The image picture was in the Greenbrier section along Porters Creek Trail. Look for Flowering Spurge in mid to late summer.
This plant has a few nicknames, such as Go Quick, Purging Root, and Emetic Root. From these names you may be able to deduce the plant’s purported medicinal value. A doctor in reported in 1817 that it was among the “most efficient of the evacuating class” of plants.
Please stop in and visit me to see the complete display of Smoky Mountain Photography at the William Britten Gallery in Gatlinburg, TN.
We’ll spend this week catching up on our review of the summer wildflowers found in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.
Pale Jewelweed (Impatiens pallida) is also known as Pale Touch-Me-Not. This is a large plant, up to six feet, favoring moist, shady wooded areas. The name Jewelweed refers to its habit of accumulating water droplets on the leaves which reflect the light. The photo at right shows this transpiration occurring on a jewelweed leaf on a hot sunny day.
The juices of Jewelweed are reputed to be a soothing remedy for skin irritations. Look for it along the Newfound Gap Road or the Porters Creek Trail in the Greenbrier section during the summer.
Please stop in and visit me to see the complete display of Smoky Mountain Photography at the William Britten Gallery in Gatlinburg, TN.
Smooth Creeping Bush Clover (Lespedeza repens) is a trailing, ground-hugging, member of the pea family that adds a beautiful accent to the dry woods of summer.
The pictures here were taken along Porters Creek Trail in the Greenbrier section of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.
Please stop in and visit me to see the complete display of Smoky Mountain Photography at the William Britten Gallery in Gatlinburg, TN.
Great Blue Lobelia (Lobelia siphilitica) is a tall, single-stalk summer wildflower, blooming during late-summer in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.
It favors moist streambanks and roadsides. The pictures here were taken along the Greenbrier Road.
The Latin name siphilitica refers to the use of this plant as a treatment for syphilis.
Please stop in and visit me to see the complete display of Smoky Mountain Photography at the William Britten Gallery in Gatlinburg, TN.
Southern Harebell (Campanula divaricata) inhabits dry, rocky slopes, trailside or roadside. The blooming period in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park is from July to October.
Unless you are carefully examining your surroundings, you may miss this delicate beauty. The plant is a foot or two tall, with tiny light blue blooms raining down from thin, bending stems. Southern Harebell can be found along the Porters Creek Trail in the Greenbrier section of the Smokies.
Please stop in and visit me to see the complete display of Smoky Mountain Photography at the William Britten Gallery in Gatlinburg, TN.
Loomis Mountain Mint (Pycnanthemum loomisii) is distinctive due to the appearance of being dusted with white powder around the bloom and upper leaves. The name Pycnanthemum means “compact flower,” referring to the dense flowering heads common to the mints.
This is a common roadside plant during the summer months.
Please stop in and visit me to see the complete display of Smoky Mountain Photography at the William Britten Gallery in Gatlinburg, TN.
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 elevations, while the orange variation is more at home at lower elevations.
Please stop in and visit me to see the complete display of Smoky Mountain Photography at the William Britten Gallery in Gatlinburg, TN
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 little flower’s leaves.
Look for this yellow violet along the Greenbrier Road or Porters Creek Trail.
Please stop in and visit me to see the complete display of Smoky Mountain Photography at the William Britten Gallery in Gatlinburg, TN.
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 Creek and Cataloochee.
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 in and visit me to see the complete display of Smoky Mountain Photography at the William Britten Gallery in Gatlinburg, TN.
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 tell the difference, as it stays compact and tight the whole time.
