Sometimes known as the “Wildflower National Park”, the Great Smoky Mountains National Park is packed with beautiful blooms. This spring has brought a variety of some of the most iconic and unique flowers out, coloring the Smokies with mesmerizing florals. With over 1,600 species of flowering plants to find, visitors are in for a treat! Here are 5 beautiful Smoky Mountain wildflowers to look for this spring in the Smokies:
1. Lady Slippers
Visitors won’t be able to miss Lady Slippers! With their bright yellow or pink blossoms these beauties stick out. Lady Slippers are typically found in wet woods or shady swamps and flourish in untouched areas. These flowers are rarer than some and hikers and nature-lovers alike are recommended to keep the location of Lady Slippers secret so that they remain undisturbed. You’re very lucky if you stumble upon these blooms!
2. Spring Beauty
The name speaks for itself when it comes to these delicate wildflowers. Spring Beauty typically blooms early and can be identified by the unique pink-striped petals and will bloom either white or a pale pink. These wildflowers are more common and can be found all over the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, but if you’re interested, Porters Creek Trail and Chestnut Top are typically home to many of these blooms. These flowers only grow around 3-4 inches tall and have a pair of oval, dark green leaves halfway up their stems. They are easily one of the most beautiful Smoky Mountain wildflowers to look for this spring
3. Trout Lily
The Trout Lily got its name from the Cherokee Indians who believed that these wildflowers were a sign that it was time to fish. Also known as the yellow dogtooth violet, these flowers can grow between 6-8 inches tall and have a single yellow, drooping flower at the top of the stem. These wildflowers are also fairly common and can be found on trails such as Porters Creek and the Cove Hardwood Self-Guided Nature Trail.
4. White Fringed Phacelia
White Fringed Phacelias grow in large colonies all over the park and can make a forest floor resemble a blanket of snow. The five, delicate, white petals will turn purple with age and resemble a cup-shape. While these flowers are common throughout the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, they are found in higher elevations most frequently. You can also find these flowers on Porters Creek and the Cove Hardwood Self-Guided Nature Trail.
5. Dutchman’s Breeches
Dutchman’s Breeches were named after their two hollow spurs that resemble a pair of white pants. These small wildflowers are identified by the nodding flower on a leafless stalk that hangs over dissected leaves. Don’t confuse Dutchman’s Breeches with Squirrel Corn, another wildflower that blooms in the same habitat. You can find these flowers on Cosby Nature Trail, Porters Creek, and Deep Creek.
Come visit the Great Smoky Mountain National Park and see all the beautiful Smoky Mountain wildflowers to look for this spring! Let us know which wildflowers are your favorite and explore more fun things to do in the Smokies!
