Mountain hiking is a beloved activity for any adventure lover. Not only do you get to witness beautiful views, but you feel a sense of accomplishment once you reach the top of the mountain. However, along the way you will view many attractive sights.
Depending on the mountain you are climbing, you may come across various beautiful mountain wildflowers. Mountain wildflowers can vary in terms of size, color, and fragrances.
However, one thing is for certain, is that you will enjoy seeing the natural beauty that mountains can produce with these flowers. We have gathered the 15 best mountain wildflowers that you should try to keep an eye out for on your next adventure.
1. Pyrenean Buttercup
The Pyrenean buttercup is a small flower that blooms in the latter stages of spring and summer. It is best recognized by its five-petaled white buttercup-shaped flower. Since it is unique to the Pyrenees mountains, it is known as the “Pyrenean buttercup.”
The Pyrenean buttercup can be extremely dangerous to dogs. If you think your dog may have consumed or come into contact with one of these flowers, you should take them to the vet right away.
2. Chiltern Gentian
One of the loveliest mountain flowers that you can come across is the Chiltern Gentianas. It is classified as rare flora or endangered. Its native environment is in the mountain ranges of Europe, like those in southern England’s Chiltern Hills.
Often blooming between August and September, this flower has petals that are blue or violet. It has reddish stems with long, slender, stalkless, green leaves.
3. Mountain Harebell
The plant Campanula lasiocarpa, sometimes referred to as the Alaska harebell, or mountain harebell, is native to western North America. The tiny, fragile stems and purple or white bell-shaped flowers of mountain harebell are its distinguishing features.
From the northern Mediterranean to the arctic mountain range, this bloom is primarily found in the Northern Hemisphere. Shakespeare, a well-known English poet and author, once included a reference to mountain harebells in one of his works.
4. Edelweiss Flower
Due to its pristine white hue, edelweiss is also referred to as a snow flower. It is a unique and uncommon flower that grows at very high elevations in the mountain range. It consists of long white petals and a cluster of subtle yellow heads in the center.
In the Carpathians and Alps, this flower blooms profusely. Despite its numerous medical benefits, most regions have laws in place that restrict hikers from collecting edelweiss.
5. Veronica Alpina
The name “Veronica Alpina” refers to the tiny purple blooms seen in most of Europe’s highest mountains, the Alps. The mountain range’s valleys, stony pastures, and certain damp areas are where you can find the flower.
Alongside the three small clusters of purple blooms, you will notice that these wildflowers have incredibly hairy stalks. This can make touching these flowers a challenge. Hence, we would avoid touching them.
6. Purple Mountain Saxifrage
Mountain saxifrage, often known as the purple wildflowers of the alpine regions, has tiny, vivid purple blossoms. Each stalk only contains one single flower. Little, spherical, scale-like leaves with ciliated borders are oppositely arranged in four rows.
These flowers will typically grow among rocks and bloom in clusters. They are one of the first spring flowers, and flower throughout the entire summer in areas where the snow takes longer to melt.
7. Amancay Flower
The Amancay Flower is a native South American mountain flower that primarily blooms in the mountains and hills of Patagonia and Peru. The flower’s golden petals and faint orange stripes give it a remarkably lovely appearance.
However, the flower has a very short life span; it can only bloom for two to three days. Myths also surround this flower. Every spring, the yellow, and crimson Amancay flowers fill the Tronador valley, and the flower is seen as a representation of unconditional love.
8. Naupaka Kuahiwi
There are two types of the Naupaka flower that can be found in Hawaii. The one that grows close to the sea is known as Naupaka Kahakai. The other is known as Naupaka Kuahiwi, which grows in the mountains. Each one appears to be one half of a flower.
However, when combined, they make one beautiful flower. These flowers have pure white petals and a producing stigma. These intriguing blossoms are the subject of various Hawaiian stories that involve two lovers.
It is said if the two flowers from the mountain and the beach are combined, then the two lovers will be together again.
9. Mountain Lady Slipper
The orchid family includes the mountain lady slipper, which thrives in humus-rich soil and arid conditions. The flower gets its name from its petals, which resemble tiny slippers.
Since it takes the mountain lady slipper about 15 years to blossom, it is one of the mountain range’s more uncommon flowers.
Mountain lady’s slippers can be found in the Rocky Mountains of Idaho, Montana, and Wyoming, as well as southern Alaska, British Columbia, and Alberta. These flowers are incredibly rare, so it is advised to not pick any if you happen to see them.
10. Scarlet Avens
A species of flowering plant belonging to the genus Geum and rose family Rosaceae is the Scarlet Avens. It is a native of the Balkan mountains and northern Turkey, and it is also grown as an ornamental because of its vivid red flowers.
The Scarlet Avens usually bloom from May to August. This flower can be found in Turkey in a number of locations in the Pontic Mountains and the Ilgaz Mountains in the Kastamonu Province, at elevations ranging from 1200 to 2400 m.
This is possibly one of the more common mountain wildflowers to come across on your travels.
11. Alpine Cinquefoil
The Alpine Cinquefoil is a type of wildflower that grows in the Rocky Mountains. The flower features five petals in golden hues. It has a very long stem, with widely displaying leaves.
This wildflower loves to grow in rocky places and higher parts of a mountain. It blooms from July to September in Britain, and throughout Europe.
12. Aster
The largest family of flowering plants in North America and throughout the world is the aster genus. According to an old wives’ tale, burning aster leaves would ward off snakes and evil spirits.
One of the most prevalent wildflowers in the Rocky Mountains is the Aster. The colors of this flower can differ. Yet, usually they have long delicate petals that are blue to light purple and a bright yellow center.
13. Lupine
The Latin term meaning “wolf,” lupine, can be poisonous. Any animals that consume this flower are at risk of death. Yet, you will see that hummingbirds and other birds are drawn to it. These flowers can be discovered all over the world.
They do well in elevations between 6,000 to 10,500. Their brightly colored ombre petals make them really attractive to look at.
14. Indian Paintbrush
The Indian Paintbrush is part of a genus of roughly 200 species of annual and perennial herbaceous plants.
These are native to the western Americas, from Alaska to the Andes, northern Asia, and one species has been discovered in the Kola Peninsula in northwest Russia. They can also go by the name’s paintbrush, or prairie-fire.
To live, this plant’s roots must attach to the roots of a host plant. This indicates that additional flowers or plants will always be growing next to this one. The Indian Paintbrush is an extremely colorful flower with petals that are frequently bright crimson.
15. Rocky Mountain Columbine
The Rocky Mountain Columbine is native to New Mexico, Arizona, and Montana. They feature very large and wide, long spurred and two tones petals. These petals form a star-like shape.
The most common color combination is creamy white center petals and violet longer petals on the outside. In the center of each flower is a bright, yellow stamen.
Usually, these flowers bloom from late spring to early summer. It is a great flower for attracting butterflies and hummingbirds. In addition to this, the Rocky Mountain Columbine also happens to be the state flower for Colorado.
Final Thoughts
When you are trekking up mountains around the world, you will come across a broad range of wildflowers. These flowers can appear in a variety of sizes and colors. Some of these wildflowers may be harder to come across than others.
They may be located around the mountains, or on the mountains themselves. Yet no matter where you spot these wildflowers, they add to the attractive views you are seeing. We hope you have found this article interesting and informative.
Now you are aware of 15 of the best mountain wildflowers that you should try to spot on your next adventure.
I love sharing my experiences with individuals in this community, and I enjoy sharing some of the best tips I have learned over the years caring for my own garden at home.
In my articles, you will find the best flowers, most fragrant flowers you can plant in your garden, how to care for your favorite plants, informative guides and how-tos so you can have the best backyard in town!
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