ADVENTURES

NEWS

FEATURES

EVENTS

PODCAST

store

Wildflower Identification Guide: 20 wildflowers found around Colorado

By June 30, 2021 | updated 5 years ago

Identify wildflowers with the help of authors and photographers Linda and Bernie Nagy. Their field guide is available from Amazon and other outlets, but if you order from their website, you receive free shipping and a signed copy! Photo Courtesy: Bernie Nagy

Colorado’s landscape is known for lighting up with wildflowers every year, most of which are in bloom at some point from June to August. Here are twenty wildflowers that can be spotted around Colorado.

Author’s Note: When scouting wildflowers in Colorado, respect the habitats by never picking flowers and staying on the trail to avoid trampling them.

1. ColumbineThe columbine is Colorado’s designated state flower, found scattered around mountainous foothills and abundant in alpine settings. Columbines can bloom with blue, violet, lavender, or white.Photo Courtesy: Bernie Nagy
1. ColumbineThe columbine is Colorado’s designated state flower, found scattered around mountainous foothills and abundant in alpine settings. Columbines can bloom with blue, violet, lavender, or white.Photo Courtesy: Bernie Nagy
2. Various SunflowersThere are five types of sunflowers native to Colorado: common sunflower, Maximilian sunflower, Nuttall’s sunflower, prairie sunflower, and bush sunflower. Each type shares characteristics such as upright growth, deep taproots, hairy stems, and heights ranging from two to 10 feet tall.Photo Credit: Christian Murdock, The Gazette.
2. Various SunflowersThere are five types of sunflowers native to Colorado: common sunflower, Maximilian sunflower, Nuttall’s sunflower, prairie sunflower, and bush sunflower. Each type shares characteristics such as upright growth, deep taproots, hairy stems, and heights ranging from two to 10 feet tall.Photo Credit: Christian Murdock, The Gazette.
3. CastillejaThe Castilleja wildflower, often referred to as the Indian Paintbrush and commonly called 'prairie-fire' flowers, splatters Colorado’s landscapes with vibrant colors. Most commonly seen in orange and red, varieties of the Castilleja flower genus can tolerate the state’s dry climate and are popular with pollinators like butterflies, bees, and hummingbirds.Photo Courtesy: Bernie Nagy.
3. CastillejaThe Castilleja wildflower, often referred to as the Indian Paintbrush and commonly called ‘prairie-fire’ flowers, splatters Colorado’s landscapes with vibrant colors. Most commonly seen in orange and red, varieties of the Castilleja flower genus can tolerate the state’s dry climate and are popular with pollinators like butterflies, bees, and hummingbirds.Photo Courtesy: Bernie Nagy.
4. GeraniumsNative to Colorado, geraniums bloom in just about any color. They are found at various elevations, including foothills, montane, subalpine, and woodlands.Photo Credit: CatLane (iStock).
4. GeraniumsNative to Colorado, geraniums bloom in just about any color. They are found at various elevations, including foothills, montane, subalpine, and woodlands.Photo Credit: CatLane (iStock).
5. Fringed Bluebells/Chiming BellsThe Fringed Bluebell flower, also known as the Chiming Bell, is a rich blue-purple. Its leaves are colored with a blue-green shade. These bell-shaped flowers grow in montane, subalpine, and along streams in Colorado.Photo Credit: Jane Nearing (flickr).
5. Fringed Bluebells/Chiming BellsThe Fringed Bluebell flower, also known as the Chiming Bell, is a rich blue-purple. Its leaves are colored with a blue-green shade. These bell-shaped flowers grow in montane, subalpine, and along streams in Colorado.Photo Credit: Jane Nearing (flickr).
6. FleabaneOne of the most common wildflowers in Colorado is the fleabane. These flowers are showy as they spread throughout large areas in foothill, montane, subalpine, and meadow settings.Photo Credit: Lubov (iStock).
6. FleabaneOne of the most common wildflowers in Colorado is the fleabane. These flowers are showy as they spread throughout large areas in foothill, montane, subalpine, and meadow settings.Photo Credit: Lubov (iStock).
7. Payson LupineThe Payson lupine is a lupine species found nowhere natively outside of Colorado. This lupine has been found only in Montrose County of western Colorado. The petals are light hues ranging from white to pink with purple tips. Other more common lupines are usually solid blue-purple. Ten other species of lupines are abundant throughout the state.Photo Credit: Brycen McCright.
7. Payson LupineThe Payson lupine is a lupine species found nowhere natively outside of Colorado. This lupine has been found only in Montrose County of western Colorado. The petals are light hues ranging from white to pink with purple tips. Other more common lupines are usually solid blue-purple. Ten other species of lupines are abundant throughout the state.Photo Credit: Brycen McCright.
8. Delphinium“Delphinium” is the Latin term for “dolphin.” These flower buds take a shape before bloom that resembles a pod of leaping dolphins. Delphinium flowers range from blues to deep purple. They grow best in moist, subalpine woods in July and August with stems towering up to seven feet.Photo Credit: krblokhin (iStock).
8. Delphinium“Delphinium” is the Latin term for “dolphin.” These flower buds take a shape before bloom that resembles a pod of leaping dolphins. Delphinium flowers range from blues to deep purple. They grow best in moist, subalpine woods in July and August with stems towering up to seven feet.Photo Credit: krblokhin (iStock).
9. FireweedIt’s a good sign of nature running its course when fireweed is spotted. This plant sprouts after natural events such as fire, landslides, and avalanches. This flower plays a significant ecological role in stabilizing soils that were upset from natural events by reaching its roots deep underground, even through rocks, to pull minerals up to the surface for future plant growth.Photo credit: TRAILSOURCE.COM (flickr).
9. FireweedIt’s a good sign of nature running its course when fireweed is spotted. This plant sprouts after natural events such as fire, landslides, and avalanches. This flower plays a significant ecological role in stabilizing soils that were upset from natural events by reaching its roots deep underground, even through rocks, to pull minerals up to the surface for future plant growth.Photo credit: TRAILSOURCE.COM (flickr).
10. Scarlet GiliaScarlet Gilia, common throughout Colorado, can turn a whole valley red or yellow. The flowers feature trumpet-like petals, making them popular with hummingbirds.Photo Credit: Peter Stevens (iStock).
10. Scarlet GiliaScarlet Gilia, common throughout Colorado, can turn a whole valley red or yellow. The flowers feature trumpet-like petals, making them popular with hummingbirds.Photo Credit: Peter Stevens (iStock).
11. IrisIrises are spectacular signs of springtime in Colorado. Native species to North America include the Dwarf Lake iris, Copper iris, and Douglas iris.Author’s Note: Most native irises are extremely difficult to transplant and will not survive the disturbance. It is illegal to dig or pick irises on national forest lands.Rocky Mountain Iris. Photo Credit: SeanXu (iStock).
11. IrisIrises are spectacular signs of springtime in Colorado. Native species to North America include the Dwarf Lake iris, Copper iris, and Douglas iris.Author’s Note: Most native irises are extremely difficult to transplant and will not survive the disturbance. It is illegal to dig or pick irises on national forest lands.Rocky Mountain Iris. Photo Credit: SeanXu (iStock).
12. James’ TelesonixThe rare telesonix jamesii thrives in montane and alpine climate zones and can be found on Colorado’s Pikes Peak and in Rocky Mountain National Park. The telesonix is found on cliffs, ledges, rock outcroppings, boulders, and scree slopes. There are 20 to 25 documented sites where telesonix jamesii is found in Colorado, totaling an estimated 100,000 individual plants.Photo Credit: Matt Lavin (flickr).
12. James’ TelesonixThe rare telesonix jamesii thrives in montane and alpine climate zones and can be found on Colorado’s Pikes Peak and in Rocky Mountain National Park. The telesonix is found on cliffs, ledges, rock outcroppings, boulders, and scree slopes. There are 20 to 25 documented sites where telesonix jamesii is found in Colorado, totaling an estimated 100,000 individual plants.Photo Credit: Matt Lavin (flickr).
13. Mountain Marsh MarigoldAnother wildflower that is a sign of spring is Colorado is the mountain marsh marigold. These small flowers thrive with spring runoff, found along stream beds and marshy areas. Moose and elk often snack on clusters of the mountain marsh marigold.Photo Credit: James Harris Photography.
13. Mountain Marsh MarigoldAnother wildflower that is a sign of spring is Colorado is the mountain marsh marigold. These small flowers thrive with spring runoff, found along stream beds and marshy areas. Moose and elk often snack on clusters of the mountain marsh marigold.Photo Credit: James Harris Photography.
14. PasqueflowerThe pasqueflower is common throughout Colorado, known for its early bloom in spring. During bloom, the flower emerges before the leaves. Pasqueflowers grow under and around snow melt in high montane forests and meadows.Photo Credit: Stefan Rotter (iStock).
14. PasqueflowerThe pasqueflower is common throughout Colorado, known for its early bloom in spring. During bloom, the flower emerges before the leaves. Pasqueflowers grow under and around snow melt in high montane forests and meadows.Photo Credit: Stefan Rotter (iStock).
15. Wild RoseThe simple, elegant beauty of the wild rose brightens hillsides and meadows in Colorado. This pink flower is large and opens with five petals and bright yellow centers.Photo Credit: Dennis Jarvis (flickr).
15. Wild RoseThe simple, elegant beauty of the wild rose brightens hillsides and meadows in Colorado. This pink flower is large and opens with five petals and bright yellow centers.Photo Credit: Dennis Jarvis (flickr).
16. Prairie FlaxPrairie flax are beautiful little flowers that are found in shades of pale to dark blue. Five rounded petals give the prairie flax a charming character.Photo Credit: OakleyOriginals (flickr). File Photo.
16. Prairie FlaxPrairie flax are beautiful little flowers that are found in shades of pale to dark blue. Five rounded petals give the prairie flax a charming character.Photo Credit: OakleyOriginals (flickr). File Photo.
17. Mountain Ball CactusMountain ball cactus is often found throughout Colorado among pinyon, juniper, and sage. White, yellow, or pink flowers blossom from the cacti, typically in April.Photo Credit: Patrick Myers, National Park Service (flickr).
17. Mountain Ball CactusMountain ball cactus is often found throughout Colorado among pinyon, juniper, and sage. White, yellow, or pink flowers blossom from the cacti, typically in April.Photo Credit: Patrick Myers, National Park Service (flickr).
18. Boulder RaspberryAlso called “delicious raspberry,” the Boulder raspberry is found in a small geographic range mostly in Colorado. This shrub is spotted with large white flowers among bright green leaves. The Boulder raspberry was first collected for western science studies in Boulder Canyon.Photo Credit: CAJC in the PNW (flickr).
18. Boulder RaspberryAlso called “delicious raspberry,” the Boulder raspberry is found in a small geographic range mostly in Colorado. This shrub is spotted with large white flowers among bright green leaves. The Boulder raspberry was first collected for western science studies in Boulder Canyon.Photo Credit: CAJC in the PNW (flickr).
19. Western WallflowerThe western wallflower thrives equally in montane and alpine meadows of the Rocky Mountains, as well as in desert canyons. The densely clustered heads of bright yellow or orange are easy to recognize. Traditionally, Native Americans have used this flower to treat stomach cramps.Photo Credit: mlharing (iStock).
19. Western WallflowerThe western wallflower thrives equally in montane and alpine meadows of the Rocky Mountains, as well as in desert canyons. The densely clustered heads of bright yellow or orange are easy to recognize. Traditionally, Native Americans have used this flower to treat stomach cramps.Photo Credit: mlharing (iStock).
20. Prairie Golden BannerA large group of tall plants with elongated yellow flower clusters make the Prairie Golden Banner easy to spot in Colorado. It’s a common, lovely flower that grows quickly after snow melt, often under aspens.Photo Credit: Tom Hilton (flickr).
20. Prairie Golden BannerA large group of tall plants with elongated yellow flower clusters make the Prairie Golden Banner easy to spot in Colorado. It’s a common, lovely flower that grows quickly after snow melt, often under aspens.Photo Credit: Tom Hilton (flickr).
BONUSPlaces to find wildflowers in Colorado include mountain towns, hiking trails, and even an entire road trip through the state to see various types.Photo Credit: danicachang (iStock).
BONUSPlaces to find wildflowers in Colorado include mountain towns, hiking trails, and even an entire road trip through the state to see various types.Photo Credit: danicachang (iStock).
Leave No TraceMore ways to protect Colorado’s pristine environments are the seven Leave No Trace Principles: plan ahead and prepare, travel and camp on durable surfaces only, dispose of all waste properly, leave what you find (including wildflowers), minimize campfire impacts, respect wildlife, and be considerate of other visitors.Author’s Note: The fields in the picture above are private property. Visitors can take pictures from the shoulder of the road, but are not permitted to enter the sunflower fields. Read more from the Adams County Sheriff’s Office here.Photo Credit: kjschoen (iStock).
Leave No TraceMore ways to protect Colorado’s pristine environments are the seven Leave No Trace Principles: plan ahead and prepare, travel and camp on durable surfaces only, dispose of all waste properly, leave what you find (including wildflowers), minimize campfire impacts, respect wildlife, and be considerate of other visitors.Author’s Note: The fields in the picture above are private property. Visitors can take pictures from the shoulder of the road, but are not permitted to enter the sunflower fields. Read more from the Adams County Sheriff’s Office here.Photo Credit: kjschoen (iStock).
Leslie James

Reporter

PREV

PREVIOUS

Bicyclist dies after crash with truck in Fort Collins

A bicyclist died Wednesday morning after colliding with a truck in Fort Collins, police announced. The Fort Collins Police Department reported the crash happened at around 9 a.m. at the intersection of Jerome Street and Vine Drive. The bicyclist was riding south on Jerome Street when he turned right onto Vine Drive and hit the […]

NEXT

NEXT UP

Hancock announces new efforts to support homeless, says unsanctioned camps 'not an option'

Denver Mayor Michael Hancock announced Wednesday plans for the city to buy more hotels and expand safe outdoor spaces to aid the city’s homeless population, while also reiterating his opposition to unsanctioned transient camps and his commitment to continue sweeping them. Hancock unveiled the latest multi-pronged approach to tackling homelessness at a new shelter Wednesday […]
Welcome Back.

Streak: 9 days i

Stories you've missed since your last login:

Stories you've saved for later:

Recommended stories based on your interests:

Edit my interests