JACKSON, Wyo. — In early spring and into mid-summer, nearly every hillside and sagebrush flat in the valley becomes decorated with blooms.
Wildflowers in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem usually bloom from May through September. According to Grand Teton National Park (GTNP), there are only about 60 continuous frost-free days a year in Jackson Hole, so the growing season is very short and the dominant blooming flowers change quickly from week to week.
“[Our region] can be separated into three distinct zones: the sagebrush valley, the forest floor and the alpine zone,” says GTNP. “Skyrocket gilia, larkspur and indian paintbrush bloom in the valley as temperatures rise. Flowers like fireweed, columbine, monkshood and the rare calypso orchid enjoy the moist environments found in forests. The flowers of the alpine zone grow close to the ground and the flowers are very small; examples include moss campion, alpine forget-me-not and sky pilot.”
From Snow King to Death Canyon to the top of the tram, a few minutes on any trail can expose a hiker to a wide variety of wildflowers.
Below, see 10 of the most common flowers spotted in and around Jackson Hole. All of these flowers can be found below 10,000 feet and some were found only 20 minutes from downtown Jackson.
Sticky Geranium
Also known as Cranesbill, Sticky Geranium is an early spring flower. It can be found in open woods or meadows and last from June until August. This bloom gets its namesake from the sticky hairs on its stem, leaves and flower stalks.
One-flowered Little Sunflowers
This little flower can easily get confused with a common sunflower or Balsamroot. In fact, the Helianthella uniflora is in the same family as the common sunflower (producer of seeds and oil) but it is much smaller.
Lupine
There are nearly 600 species of Lupine in North America. These flowers grow in colorful clumps everywhere from sagebrush flats to lodgepole forests. Silvery Lupine is a ubiquitous flower in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem.
Columbian Monkshood
These beautiful little flowers resemble monks’ robes, hence the name. The stems are tall, ranging from two to five feet. Find these flowers in wet, shady areas up to 9,000 ft in most of the canyons in the Range.
Cow Parsnip
Usually found in similar locales as Monkshood, Cow Parsnip loves moist meadows and ravines where there is enough water to satisfy its large leaves.
Rocky Mountain Columbine
These elegant, graceful flowers can be found throughout the Rocky Mountains. Though the Rocky Mountain Columbine is the state flower of Colorado, they are common in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem, up to 9,000 ft. Typically blue in Colorado, the sepals fade to white as one moves northward.
Green Gentian
Green Gentian-Frasera speciosa, can be found reaching heights of five to seven feet tall! These giant flowers live for up to 40 years.
Silky Phacelia
With its thick stalks of dark blue or purple flowers and silvery-pubescent fern-like leaves, the silky phacelia (Phacelia sericea) is one of the most handsome wildflowers of western North America. Like little fireworks, Silky Phacelia is a beautiful flower. Colors can range from magenta to deep purple.
Paintbrush
There are 10 to 12 different species of Castilleja (Paintbrush) in Grand Teton. It takes a botanist to parse out the details that separate them. Indian Paintbrush, also known as Prairie Fire, is native to the western Americas and became the Wyoming state flower in 1917.
Balsamroot
Balsamroot is in its prime for only a short period – filling the sagebrush flats with yellow flowers. As July comes to a close, their large green leaves will turn crispy.
Buckrail runs this story annually.
