Blue Ridge Parkway Shrubs & Flowers
The Blue Ridge Parkway is home to many unique species of flowers and shrubs that can not be found in many other locations around the world! From Catawba Rhododendron to Fire Pink flowers, there are many natural beauties to see in this region along the Blue Ridge Parkway. Here are some of the most popular Spring and Summer blooms that you may see!
Catawba Rhododendron (Rhododendron catawbiense)
A medium shrub with pink to purple flowers growing above 3000 feet on exposed ridges. June-Early July
Rosebay Rhododendron (Rhododendron maximum)
Also called White Rhododendron, this is a large shrub with white to pink flowers, over a wide range of elevations. June-July
Flame Azalea (Rhododendron calendulaceum)
A medium shrub with bright organce to red flowers. Azaleas are in the rhododendron family. June-July
Wild Hydrangea (Hydrangea arborescens)
A medium shrub with large clusters of white flowers. May-August
Mountain Laurel (Kalmia latifolia)
A medium shrub with pink flowers. June-July
Pinxter Flower (Rhododendron nudiflorum)
A medium shrub with pink honeysuckle-like flowers, common at lower elevations. April-May
Fire Pink (Silene virginica)
This 6-20 inch plant has bright red flowers up to 1-1/2 inches wide. April-June
Goat’s Beard (Aruncus dioicus)
3-5 feet tall with flower plumes 3-5 inches wide and 6-10 inches long. May-June
Bluets (Houstonia species)
3-6 inches tall with many small 4-petal flowers, light to dark blue. Bluets sometimes grow in large beds. May-August
Turks-Cap Lily (Lilium superbum)
6 to 10 feet tall with flowers 2-4 inches wide with a green star at center. The Carolina Lily (L. michauxii) is similar but lacks the green star and bears fewer flowers. July-August
Large-Flowered Trillium (Trillium grandiflorum)
The largest of several trilliums found along the parkway, grows to about 15 inches. Trilliums have 3 leaves and a single 3-petal flower. April-May
Bee Balm (Monarda didyma also called Oswego Tea)
2-5 feet tall with bright red 2-inch flowers. Wild Bergamot is similar but pink. July-August
The bloom peak occurs within the dates indicated. Bloom peaks along the Parkway in Virginia are usually earlier than in North Carolina due to lower elevation. The selected locations are referenced to Parkway milepost markers beginning with Milepost 0 at Rockfish Gap in Virginia and ending at Milepost 469 in North Carolina. The letters PA represent Picnic Areas.
| Flowers |
Peak |
Milepost Location |
| Skunk Cabbage (Sympocarpus foetidus) |
Feb-Mar | 176.1, 185.8, 217.0 |
| Dandelion (Taraxacum officinale) |
Feb-June | Common along roadside. |
| Dwarf Iris (Iris Verna) |
Mar-Apr | 260.5 |
| Spring Beauty (Claytonia caroliniana) |
Mar-Apr | Craggy PA |
| Mayapple (Podophyllum peltatum) |
Mar-Apr | 76.2-76.4, 296-297, 315-317, 320.8, 339.5 |
| Serviceberry-Sarvis (Amelanchier arborea) |
Mar-May | 241-242, 294-297, 308.3, 347.6, 368-370 |
| Silver-Bell Tree (Halesia carolina) |
Mar-May | 344.1-355.3 |
| Birdfoot Violet (Viola pedata) |
Mar-May | 147.4, 202, 260.5, 379 |
| Buttercups (Rannunculus hispidus) |
Mar-June | Common along roadside |
| Squirrel Corn (Dicentra canadensis) |
Apr-May | Craggy PA, 458.2- Heintooga Spur Rd. |
| Tulip Poplar (Liriodendron tulipifera) |
Apr-May | Common in low woods and coves. |
| Indian Paintbrush (Castilleja coccinea) |
Apr-May | 369-371 |
| Great Chickweed (Stellaria pubera) |
Apr-May | Common in rich, moist woods. |
| Soloman’s Seal (Polyganatum biflorum) |
Apr-May | Common on moist wooded slopes, coves. |
| Fringed Phacelia (Phacelia fimbriata) |
Apr-May | 370-375 |
| Bloodroot (Sanguinara canadensis) |
Apr-May | 85.6, 191-193, 198.7, 294 |
| Princess Tree (Paulownia tomentosa) |
Apr-May | 100-123, 381-382, 396, 400 |
| Golden Groundsel (Senecio aureus) |
Apr-May | 29.1, 85.8 PA, 330-340 |
| Pinxter Flower (Rhododendron nudiflorum) |
Apr-May | 4, 92-97, 138.6, 145.5, 154.5 PA, 162.9, 211.6, 217-222, 350-351, 412-423 |
| Heal All (Prunella vulgaris) |
Apr-frost | Common along roadside |
| Trillium (Trillium spp.) |
Apr-May | 175, 200-216, 339-340, 364.6 |
| Fetterbush (Leucothoc racemosa) |
Late Apr-May | 241.1, 379 |
| Redbud (Cercia canadensis) |
Late Apr-May | 54-68 |
| Dutchman’s Breeches (Dicentra cucullaria) |
Apr-June | 367.6 PA, 458.2 |
| Foam Flower (Tiarella cordifolia) |
Apr-June | 296.9, 339.5, 367.7 PA |
| False Soloman’s Seal (Smilacina racemosa) |
Apr-June | Common along roadside |
| Black Locust (Robinia pseudo-acacia) |
Apr-June | 100-123, 367-368, 383 |
| Witch Hobble-Hobblebush (Vibumum alnifolium) |
Apr-June | 295.5, 362-367, higher elevations in rich, moist woods. |
| Carolina Rhododendron (Rhododendron minus) |
Late Apr-June | 308-310, 404-411 |
| Dogwood (Cornus florida) |
May | 6, 85.8 PA, 154.5 PA, 230-232, 217-219, 378-282 |
| Large Flowered Trillium (Trillium grandiflorum) |
May | 3-7, 64-85, 154.5 PA, 168-169, 175, 330-340, 370-375 |
| Fraser Magnolia (Magnolia fraseri) |
May | 173-174, 252-253 |
| Bluets (Houstonia spp.) |
May-June | 200.2, 355-368 PA |
| Field Hawkweed (Hieracium pratense) |
May-June | 6, 78.4, 165.5, 229.5, 325-330 |
| Wild Geranium (Geranium maculatum) |
May-June | 84-86, 170-172, 211.6, 375 |
| Hawthorne (Crataegus spp.) |
May-June | 155-176, 365.6, 368 |
| Small’s Groundsel (Senecio smallii) |
May-June | 29.1, 85.8 PA, 330-340 |
| Bristly Locust (Robinia hispida) |
May-June | 167-174, 308.3, 347.9 |
| Pinkshell (Rhododendron vaseyi) |
May-June | 305.2, 342-343, 349-351, 419-424 |
| Red Berried Elder (Sambucus pubens) |
May-June | 355-360, 369, 412-425, higher elevations in rich, moist woods. |
| Flame Azalea (Rhododendron calendulaceum) |
May-June | 138.6, 144-145, 149.5, 164-166, 217-221, 308-310, 368-380, 412-423 |
| Fire Pink PA, (Silene virginica) |
May-June | 1-2, 85.8 PA, 154.5 241 PA, 339.3 PA, 367-375, 404-408 |
| Allegheny Blackberry (Rubus allegheniesis) |
May-June | 6, 167.2, 239.9, 305-315, 339.5, 367.6 |
| Staghorn Sumac (Rhus typhina) |
May-June | Common along roadside in dry, rocky areas. |
| Bowman’s Root (Gillenia trifoliata) |
May-June | 24-25, 149.5, 260, 332, 368-369 |
| Bead Lily (Clintonia unbellulata) |
May-June | Common in rich, moist deciduous woods. |
| New Jersey Tea (Ceanothus americanus) |
May-June | 42-43, 91-100, 138.4, 197, 211, 241, 328.6 |
| Dodder or Love Vine (Cuscuta rostrata) |
Aug-Sep | Common along roadside |
| Spiraca (Spiraca japonica) |
June-July | 368-378 |
| Bittersweet (Celastrus orbiculatus) |
May-June Aug-Sep (berry) | 242.4, 383, 394, 396 |
| Galax (Galax aphylla) |
May-July | Common in deciduous forests, open rocky areas. |
| Fly Poison (Amianthium muscaetoxicum) |
May-July | 210-216, 406-408 |
| Phlox (Phlox carolina) |
May-July | 4, 79-82, 163-164, 200-202, 219-221, 339.3 PA, 370-380 |
| Columbine (Aquilegia canadensis) |
May-July | 74-75, 339.3 PA, 370-378 |
| Bladder Campion (Silene cucubalus) |
May-Aug | 376-381 |
| Queen Anne’s Lace (Daucus carota) | May-Sep | Common along open fields and roadside. |
| Virginia Spiderwort
(Tradescantia subaspera) |
Late May-July | 85.8 Sharp Top Trail, 380-381 |
| Mountain Laurel (Kalmia latifolia) |
Late May-June | 130.5, 162.9, 347.9, 380, 400 |
| Catawba Rhododendron (Rhododendron catawbiesne) |
June | 44.9, 77-83, 130.5, 138.6, 239, 247, 266.8, 348-350, 364.1 |
| Viper’s Bugloss (Echium vulgare) |
June | May-40 |
| Sundrop (Oenothera fruticosa) |
June | 8-10, 89-91, 229, 270.6, 351-352, 355-360, 370-375 |
| Tree of Heaven (Ailanthus altissima) |
June July-Oct (berry) | 382, common along roadside in Virginia. |
| Goat’s Beard (Aruncus dioicus) |
June | 10-11, 24, 240, 337.6, 370-375 |
| Butterfly Weed (Asclepias tuberosa) |
June-Aug | 63-65, 238-246 |
| Beard-Tongue (Penstemon spp.) |
June-July | 44.4, 89-91, 154.5 PA, 254.4, 339-340, 370-372 |
| American Elder (Sambucus canadensis) |
June-July | 29, 85.8 PA, 136-138, 272-275, 311.2 |
| Fragrant Thimbleberry (Rubus odoratus) |
June-July | 18, 74.7, 339.3 PA 369-372, 406-408 |
| White Rhododendron (Rhododendron maximum) |
June-July | 162.9, 169 PA, 232-233, 339.3 PA, 352-353, 455-456 |
| Sourwood (Oxydendrum arboreum) |
June-July | 102-106, 231-232, 321-327, 375-380 |
| Mountain Ash (Sorbus americana) |
June-July (bloom) Sep-Oct (berry) | Higher elevation spruce-fir forests, Mt. Mitchell, Mt. Pisgah. |
| False Hellebore | June-Aug | 364.6, Craggy Gardens |
| Deptford Pink (Dianthus aemeria) |
June-Aug | Common along grassy roadsides. |
| Coreopsis (Coreopsis pubescens) |
June-Aug | 29.6, 77, 157, 190, 306 |
| Butter and Eggs (Linaria vulgaris) |
June-Aug | Common along roadsides and waste places. |
| Turkscap Lily (Lilium superbum) |
June-Aug | 187.6, 364-368, 406-411 |
| Mullein (Verbasxum thapsus) |
June-Sep | Common along roadside on dry banks. |
| Bull Thistle (Carduus lanceolatus) |
Late June-frost | Common alongroad sides & pastures at lower elevations. |
| Black Cohosh (Cimicifuga racemosa) |
July | 6, 85.8 PA, 169 PA, 374 |
| Tall Meadow-Rue (Thalictrum polygamum) |
July | 85.8 PA, 155.2, 248 |
| Fleabane (Erigeron strigosus) |
July | Common in fields and along roadside. |
| Ox-Eye Daisy (Chrysanthemum leucanthemum) |
July | Common in fields and along roadside. |
| Yarrow (Achillea millefolium) |
July | Common in fields and along roadside. |
| Black-Eyed Susan (Rudbeckia hirta) |
July | Common in fields and along roadside. |
| Common Milkweed (Asclepias syriaca) |
July-Aug | 85-86, 167-176 |
| Bergamot Beebalm (Monarda fistulosa) |
July-Aug | 38.8, 368-374 |
| Tall Coneflower (Rudbeckia laciniata) |
July-Aug | 36, 161.2, 228.1, 314, 359-368 |
| Oswego Tea (Monarda didyma) |
July-Aug | Common in wet areas at higher elevations. |
| Starry Campion (Silene stellata) |
July-Sep | 378-380 |
| Bellflower (Campanula americana) |
July-Sep | 370-375 |
| White Snakeroot (Eupatorium rugosum) |
July-Oct | Common along roadside. |
| Jewel Weed (Impatiens capensis) |
Aug | Common along roadside in wet areas. |
| Boneset (Eupatorium rugosum) |
Aug | 29.1, 85.8 PA, 151, 247, 314 |
| Ironweed (Venonia noveboracensis) |
Aug | 245, 248 |
| Joe-Pye-Weed (Eupatorium purpureum) |
Aug | 6, 85.8 PA, 146, 248, 339.3 PA, 357-359 |
| Pokeberry (Phytolacca americana) |
Aug | 6, 74.7, 151, 239.9, 323, 376.9 |
| Cardinal Flower (Lobelia cardinalis) |
Aug | Infrequently in wet places |
| Virgins Bower (Clematis virginiana) |
Aug | 131.1, 85.8 PA, 176.1, 285-289, 313-370 |
| Blazing Star (Liatris spicata) |
Aug-Sep | 305.1, 369-370 |
| Angelica (Angelica triquinata) |
Aug-Sep | 294.7, 339.5, 355, Craggy Gardens, Nature Trails |
| Nodding Lady Tresses (Spiranthes cernua) |
Aug-frost | 365-368 |
| Gentian (Gentiana quinquefolia) |
Late Aug-frost | 85.8, 363-368 |
| Goldenrod (Solidago spp.) |
Sep | Common in fields and along roadside. |
| Aster (Aster spp.) |
Sep | Common in fields and along roadside. |
| Yellow Ironweed (Actinomeris alternifolia) |
Sep-Oct | 6, 88, 154.5, 271.9, 330.8 |
| Witch Hazel (Hamamelis virginiana) |
Late Sep-Oct | 130.5, 293.3, 295.4, 305.1, 308.3, 339.5, 347.6, 367.7 |