Last winter was long and wretched. Spring has been wet and mild. Colorado’s sun-worshipers are starting to yearn for a familiar string of 90-degree days.
All that snow and rain is paying off, however. A lush, colorful summer is ahead, now that wildflowers are starting to bloom all over the state.
“I’m expecting and have already seen an amazing year for wildflowers,” says Denver Botanic Gardens horticulturalist Mike Kintgen. “Wherever there’s been good moisture the wildflowers should be spectacular. I’ve already seen some of the best displays I have seen in years just west of Denver, in the foothills.”
From the eastern plains to the alpine tundra, bursts of color are brightening the landscape right now. More are on the way in the warm months ahead. Here’s a guide to some of Colorado’s most vibrant natives and Kintgen’s suggestions for where to find them.
Remember: If you’re hunting for wildflowers on public lands – like state or national parks and forests – the plants, their blossoms and seeds, have to stay put. “Take lots of photos,” advises Clare Sinacori, public affairs specialist for Colorado State Parks, “but don’t take the flowers.” – Kathleen St. John, special to The Denver Post
BEARDED TONGUE
(Penstemon) There’s a wide variety of bearded tongues in Colorado. That sounds gross, but it’s a good thing. Named for a fuzzy appendage inside its flower, bearded tongue grows in 62 species statewide. Their stems are covered in small, bell-
shaped flowers that can come in a rainbow of colors.
Spot them: Just about anywhere. “There’s not a single species that’s found throughout the state, but there’s at least one or two everywhere,” Kintgen says.
INDIAN PAINTBRUSH
(Castilleja miniata): A familiar sight across the state, these little flowers look like mini-bushes of paintbrushes daubed with red, magenta, orange or yellow paint. Indian paintbrushes are in full bloom right now on the plains; other locations will continue to bloom through August.
Spot them: Along C-470 west of Denver.
COLORADO LOCO
(Oxytropis lambertii): It looks more like a bush than a flower, but whatever it is, the Colorado loco gets noticed. A member of the pea family, its tall stalks are covered with flashy magenta blooms. The Colorado loco goes crazy from the end of June to the middle of July.
Spot them: In dry, open meadows in the plains and foothills.
MOUNTAIN DANDELION
(Agoseris glauca): Mountain dandelions look like a taller, orange cousin of the common, lowland dandelions. They’re tough cookies, though, popping up where they can in high summer (July and August). Look for their orange-red or yellow blooms – if you’re lucky, you might see a rare pink one.
Spot them: Shady spots under aspens or pines.
COLUMBINE
(Aquilegia caerulea): It’s our state flower for a reason. This blue-and-white beauty thrives at elevations from 7,000 feet to about 12,000 feet. Blooming from the end of June through the end of August, columbines are found in shady aspen groves or in boulder fields above the treeline.
Spot them: Along Straight Creek near the Eisenhower Tunnel. “You can park on the west side of the tunnel and walk up,” says Kintgen.
HOODED LADY’S TRESSES
(Spiranthes romanzoffiana): Colorado’s climate doesn’t seem friendly to water-loving orchids, but there’s just enough moisture to support hooded lady’s tresses. These delicate white orchids bloom July through August in lower, boggy areas.
Spot them: In wet areas on the plains or in the foothills. “You have to get your feet wet to find it, it’s that boggy,” says Kintgen. “Up close, it’s just as intricate as a tropical orchid.”
HUDSON’S ANEMONE
(Anemone hudsoniana): The tall, thin Hudson’s anemone is well-suited to its home in rocky Western soils. Blooming from May through July, depending on elevation, it opens a red or white bloom, then makes a fuzzy seedhead. “It’ll look like a little cotton ball,” Kintgen says.
Spot them: Rocky places in mountain areas, from the foothills to the tundra.
PRAIRIE SPIDERWORT
(Tradescantia occidentalis): These tiny flowers are fragile, but they stand out proudly with three deep-blue petals. They’re blooming right now, and are best seen in the morning and again in late afternoon.
Spot them: In suburban fields and on the eastern plains.
RAGLEAF BAHIA
(Bahia dissecta) – Can’t miss the ragleaf bahia. Its fluffy, yellow bloom begs for attention. Resembling a yellow daisy, ragleaf bahia come into bloom from July through September on the plains and in the mountains below treeline.
Spot them: Around Buena Vista. “It really makes a strong display if we have rains in the later part of the summer,” says Kintgen. “Last year there were whole fields of it.”
SHOWY FOUR O’CLOCK
(Allionia incarnata) – These timely flowers open every afternoon (hence the name) and close the next morning. Their “showy” purple color stands out against the dry soils they prefer. Look for showy four o’ clocks in hot, dry areas from July into September.
Spot them: In the southern part of the state, near Pueblo or Alamosa.
Sources: usda.plants.gov; swcoloradowildflowers.com
