Flowers in Yellowstone National Park

Yellowstone National Park is home to an incredible diversity of wildflowers that bloom across its vast landscapes, from meadows and forests to thermal areas and wetlands. The park's high elevation, varied terrain, and unique geothermal features create a rich habitat for an array of flowering plants. Below is a detailed overview of the beautiful wildflowers found in Yellowstone, categorized by color and their respective blooming periods.

White Flowers

Among the most delicate yet striking blooms in Yellowstone are the white flowers, which are widely distributed across different habitats. The Marsh Marigold thrives in wet meadows throughout the park and the Beartooth Mountains, blooming from May to July. Northern Bedstraw, found in the northern range, flowers from July to August. White Geranium, a staple of moist areas, blossoms during July and August. Phlox is abundant parkwide from May to July, while Wild Strawberry offers small but striking blooms in the same period.

The Yampa plant can be seen in meadows across the park between July and August, and Cow Parsnip flourishes in wet areas from July to August. Evening Primrose is commonly spotted in the Gardiner and Mammoth areas in May and June. Ladies’ Tresses, an orchid species, appears in thermal areas and meadows in July and August. Woodland Star, a delicate meadow flower, is in bloom from May to June. Yarrow, known for its medicinal properties, spreads across the park and blooms from June to September. Other notable white flowers include Pussytoes (June–July), Spring Beauty (April–June), and Bistort, which grows in meadows and the Beartooth Mountains from June to August.

Yellow Flowers

Yellowstone’s bright yellow wildflowers add a golden touch to the park’s landscapes. Arnica, a well-known medicinal plant, blooms parkwide from June to August. Groundsel thrives from June to September, while Yellow Bell flowers in Hayden Valley and Dunraven Pass during May and June. Glacier Lily, a sign of early summer, graces the Lake area and Dunraven Pass from May to June. Cinquefoil, a widespread yellow bloom, is visible throughout the park from June to August.

Stonecrop, a hardy species, appears in barren areas from June to August. The Yellow Monkeyflower, thriving in thermal areas, bogs, and creeks, is present from May to August. Rabbitbrush, a late bloomer, colors the northern range from August to September. Balsamroot, known for its large, sunflower-like flowers, appears in the northern range from June to July. Prickly Pear Cactus, an uncommon sight in Yellowstone, blooms in the Gardiner and Mammoth areas in late June. The Yellow Pond Lily, a serene aquatic species, is found in ponds and slow-moving streams from July to August.

Other yellow blooms include Sulfur Buckwheat (June–August, parkwide), Globeflower (May–June, Beartooth Mountains), Helianthella (July–August, Dunraven Pass), and Yellow Violet, which thrives in moist meadows from May to June.

Red & Pink Flowers

The vibrant reds and pinks of Yellowstone’s wildflowers are a sight to behold. Shooting Star, with its backward-facing petals, blooms in meadows from May to June. Prairie Smoke, known for its feathery seed heads, flowers in June and July. Coralroot, an unusual orchid, appears on forest floors in June and July. Bitterroot, Montana’s state flower, is a northern range specialty that blooms from May to June.

Elephant Head, named for its unique shape, grows in moist meadows from June to July. Twinflower, a delicate forest species, blossoms from June to July. Paintbrush, one of Yellowstone’s most famous flowers, is found parkwide from June to August. Wild Rose decorates the northern range from June to July, while Sticky Geranium is widespread in meadows and northern areas from June to August. Fireweed, a striking tall flower, blooms throughout the park in July and August. Lewis Monkeyflower, a Dunraven Pass specialty, blossoms in July and August.

Blue & Purple Flowers

The blue and purple wildflowers of Yellowstone add a cool contrast to the landscape. Fringed Gentian, famous for its deep blue petals, is commonly found in geyser basins and meadows from May to August. Harebell, a delicate, bell-shaped flower, blooms parkwide from July to August. Wild Flax, with its sky-blue flowers, thrives in dry meadows from June to August. Penstemon, a stunning blue wildflower, grows in meadows from June to August. Lupine, one of Yellowstone’s most iconic wildflowers, covers the park from June to August.

Other notable blue and purple flowers include Forget-me-not (June–July, northern range), Phacelia (May–July, northern range and Dunraven Pass), Stickseed (June–July, northern range), and Bluebells, which are common along streams and in meadows from May to July. Clematis, a climbing vine, blooms in the northern range from May to June, while Larkspur appears parkwide from May to August. Monkshood, a tall and toxic wildflower, thrives in moist areas from June to August. Wild Iris, an elegant bloom, is found in the northern range in June, while Pasqueflower, one of the first flowers to bloom after winter, appears from May to June. Aster and Fleabane, two closely related flowers, bloom across Yellowstone from May to September.

Conclusion

Yellowstone National Park’s wildflowers offer a spectacular display of colors throughout the warmer months, enhancing the beauty of its diverse landscapes. From the delicate white Marsh Marigold to the vibrant reds of Fireweed and the deep blues of Fringed Gentian, the park’s floral diversity is a testament to its thriving ecosystem. Whether exploring the geyser basins, meadows, or alpine regions, visitors to Yellowstone are sure to be captivated by the stunning array of wildflowers that call this iconic park home.