|
Western Yarrow |
Achillea millefolium |
F |
D |
12–42 in |
White flowers fading to cream from spring-fall |
|
Columbian Monkshood |
Aconitum columbianum |
F-P |
W-A |
2–6 ft |
Highly toxic (aconitine), all parts; wet meadows/stream banks only |
|
Parry's Agave |
Agave parryi |
F |
D |
24 in |
Light gray to green foliage is broad and flat |
|
Nodding Wild Onion |
Allium cernuum |
F-P |
A-D |
8–20 in |
Dry soil; nodding white-pink summer flowers; deer resistant |
|
Pearly Everlasting |
Anaphalis margaritacea |
F-P |
A |
6–18 in |
White flowers bloom prolifically Jun-Sep |
|
Small-flowered Anemone |
Anemone parviflora |
F-P |
A |
2–8 in |
Alpine rock-garden anemone; toxic sap, not for lowland beds |
|
Rosy Pussytoes |
Antennaria rosea |
F-P |
A |
4–8 in |
Pink and white flowers Jun-Jul; drought tolerant |
|
Mountain Death Camas |
Anticlea elegans |
F-P |
A-D |
1-2.5 ft |
HIGHLY TOXIC bulb/foliage; do not confuse with edible Camassia |
|
CO Blue Columbine |
Aquilegia coerulea |
P |
A |
12–30 in |
Blue-and-white mountain columbine, Jun–Aug; moist but well-drained soil. Distinct from eastern red columbine. |
|
Western Columbine |
Aquilegia formosa |
P |
A-W |
24–36 in |
Unique red and yellow flowers spring-summer |
|
Wild Sarsaparilla |
Aralia nudicaulis |
P-S |
A |
1-2 ft |
Rhizomatous woodland ground cover; white umbels, dark berries |
|
flatbud prickly poppy |
Argemone munita |
F |
D |
2–4 ft |
Spiny wildflower, showy white blooms; sap toxic, use gloves |
|
Western Wild Ginger |
Asarum caudatum |
S |
A-W |
4-6 in |
Evergreen shade groundcover; glossy leaves, hidden maroon flowers |
|
Showy Milkweed |
Asclepias speciosa |
F-P |
A-D |
2-4 ft |
Monarch host plant; toxic sap; spreads by rhizome |
|
Wild Aster |
Aster spp. |
F |
A |
12–36 in |
Purple, light blue to cream flowers |
|
Freckled Milkvetch |
Astragalus lentiginosus |
F |
D |
4-20 in |
Silvery, spreading legume; pods freckled with red, namesake feature |
|
Sego lily |
Calochortus nuttallii |
F |
D |
6–18 in |
Utah's state flower; bulb goes dormant through dry summers |
|
Blue Camas |
Camassia quamash |
F |
W |
12–24 in |
Blue petals and yellow stamen blooms May-Jun |
|
Desert Paintbrush |
Castilleja angustifolia |
F |
A-D |
6-16 in |
Root hemiparasite; needs host shrub/grass; don't dig from wild |
|
wavy-leaved paintbrush |
Castilleja applegatei |
F-P |
A-D |
6-16 in |
Root hemiparasite; plant near sagebrush or bunchgrass host |
|
Scarlet Paintbrush |
Castilleja miniata |
F-P |
A-D |
8-32 in |
Root hemiparasite; needs grass/sedge host; don't dig from wild |
|
Water Hemlock |
Cicuta maculata |
F-P |
W |
3-6 ft |
Extremely toxic; wetlands/ditches only, not for gardens |
|
Miner's Lettuce |
Claytonia perfoliata |
P-S |
A-W |
4-12 in |
Shade groundcover; edible mild green; self-sows, dies back in summer |
|
grand collomia |
Collomia grandiflora |
F-P |
D |
8 in - 3 ft |
Annual wildflower; apricot flowers; reseeds in lean dry soil |
|
tapertip hawksbeard |
Crepis acuminata |
F |
D |
1-2.5 ft |
Taprooted sagebrush-steppe perennial; yellow; key wildlife forage |
|
Hoary Tansyaster |
Dieteria canescens |
F |
D |
0.5-2 ft |
Bushy gray-hairy wildflower; purple fall rays, very drought tolerant |
|
Purple Coneflower |
Echinacea purpurea |
F-P |
A |
24–36 in |
Continuously blooms (purple) summer-fall |
|
Cut-leaf Daisy |
Erigeron compositus |
F |
D |
1–10 in |
White to lavender flower heads; spring to summer depending on elevation; gritty, well-drained soil |
|
arrowleaf buckwheat |
Eriogonum compositum |
F |
D |
8–20 in |
Arrow-shaped woolly leaves; cream flower heads draw many pollinators |
|
Wyeth Buckwheat |
Eriogonum heracleoides |
F |
D-A |
4–24 in |
Creamy white flowers; woody-based perennial of dry, well-drained sites |
|
Slender Buckwheat |
Eriogonum microthecum |
F |
A-D |
4in-2ft |
Wiry low subshrub; many regional varieties; late-summer bloom |
|
Snow Buckwheat |
Eriogonum niveum |
F |
D |
6–24 in (occasionally taller) |
Late-summer to fall white flowers aging pink; dry, sharply drained sites; woody base |
|
naked buckwheat |
Eriogonum nudum |
F |
D |
8–24 in |
Long-blooming wildflower on bare stems above a basal rosette |
|
Cushion Buckwheat |
Eriogonum ovalifolium |
F |
A-D |
2-6 in |
Silvery mat-forming cushion with round pompom flowerheads |
|
Sulfur Buckwheat |
Eriogonum umbellatum |
F |
A |
12 in |
Yellow flowers with hints of reddish orange |
|
Woolly Sunflower |
Eriophyllum lanatum |
F |
A-D |
4–40 in (variety dependent) |
Yellow flower heads, spring to summer; woolly foliage; local varieties differ in size and water needs |
|
Lewis Monkeyflower |
Erythranthe lewisii |
F-P |
W |
1–2.5 ft |
Magenta streamside flowers; needs constant moisture, bee-pollinated |
|
Checker Lily |
Fritillaria affinis |
P-S |
A |
8–24 in |
Nodding mottled bells; shaded woodland bulb; dry summer rest |
|
Blanket Flower |
Gaillardia aristata |
F-P |
A |
24 in |
Flower rays a mix of red, yellow or orange |
|
Sweet-scented Bedstraw |
Galium triflorum |
P-S |
A |
6-24 in trailing groundcover |
Fragrant shade groundcover for rich, consistently moist soil |
|
Northern Gentian |
Gentianella amarella |
F-P |
W-A |
4–16 in |
Fringed purple autumn flowers; wet mountain meadows & fens |
|
Sticky Geranium |
Gerani. viscosissimum |
F-P |
A |
12–30 in |
Pink to lavender flowers with red veins May-Sep |
|
Richardson's Geranium |
Geranium richardsonii |
P |
A |
1–3 ft |
White purple-veined flowers; aspen groves & moist mountain meadows |
|
Prairie Smoke |
Geum triflorum |
F-P |
A |
18 in |
Reddish to purplish flowers |
|
Globe Gilia |
Gilia capitata |
F-P |
D-A |
4 in–3 ft |
Round blue flower heads; sandy/rocky soil; self-sows from seed |
|
Cow parsnip |
Heracleum maximum |
F-P |
A-W |
4-8 ft |
Striking wildflower; sap is phototoxic, causes skin burns in sun |
|
Texas Red Yucca |
Hesperaloe parviflora |
F |
D |
4 ft |
Red blooms in summer reach 5'; slow-growing |
|
hairy golden aster |
Heterotheca villosa |
F |
D |
6 in–2 ft |
Long-blooming yellow native; very drought tolerant |
|
crevice alumroot |
Heuchera micrantha |
P-S |
A-D |
1–3 ft (flowering) |
Roots into rock crevices; airy white flower sprays |
|
Scarlet Gilia |
Ipomopsis aggregata (syn. Gilia aggregata) |
F-P |
A-D |
12–30 in |
Hummingbird flowers; biennial or short-lived, often flowering once; allow reseeding |
|
Western Blue Flag |
Iris missouriensis |
F-P |
W-A |
10-28 in |
Blue-violet wet-meadow iris; toxic, deer-resistant, alkaline-tolerant |
|
Tall Blue Lettuce |
Lactuca biennis |
F-P |
A-W |
3–8 ft |
Biennial; milky sap can irritate skin |
|
Bitterroot |
Lewisia rediviva |
F |
D |
1–4 in |
MT state flower; leafless pink blooms on bare rock, dry summer rest |
|
Twinflower |
Linnaea borealis |
P-S |
A-W |
2-4 in |
Evergreen groundcover for cool, acidic, shaded sites; slow to spread |
|
Wild Blue Flax |
Linum perenne |
F-P |
A |
8–24 in |
L. perenne is introduced; native flax is L. lewisii. Confirm row identity. Source |
|
Arctic Lupine |
Lupinus arcticus |
F-P |
A |
6–20 in |
Toxic alpine wildflower for rock gardens; nitrogen-fixing. |
|
Silver Lupine |
Lupinus argenteus |
F-P |
A |
8–24 in |
Blue to white flowers; nitrogen fixing |
|
miniature lupine |
Lupinus bicolor |
F-P |
D |
2-12 in |
Low, early bicolor spikes; self-seeds; avoid rich fertilized soil |
|
broadleaf lupine |
Lupinus latifolius |
F-P |
A-D |
1-3 ft |
Showy blue-purple spikes; nitrogen-fixer; needs sharp drainage |
|
Prairie Lupine |
Lupinus lepidus |
F |
A-D |
4–24 in |
Tough prairie-to-alpine native; nitrogen-fixer; toxic if eaten. |
|
Common Madia |
Madia elegans |
F |
D |
1-4 ft |
Annual tarweed; sticky foliage; yellow daisies through dry summer |
|
Starry False Lily |
Maianthemum stellatum |
P-S |
A-D |
8-18 in |
Rhizomatous woodland groundcover; starry flowers; berries inedible |
|
American Wild Mint |
Mentha arvensis |
F-P |
W-A |
6in-2ft |
Native wetland mint; spreads by rhizome; flowers at leaf joints |
|
Blazing Star |
Mentzelia laevicaulis |
F |
D |
1-4 ft |
Huge yellow flowers open at dusk; needs sharp drainage |
|
Mountain Bluebells |
Mertensia ciliata |
P-F |
W |
1–4 ft |
Streamside wildflower; pink buds open sky blue |
|
Muskflower |
Mimulus moschatus |
P-S |
W |
4-12 in |
Mat-forming wet-shade wildflower; yellow blooms late spring-fall |
|
Indian Pipe |
Monotropa uniflora |
S |
A-W |
3-10 in |
Non-photosynthetic; parasitizes fungi; never dig or transplant |
|
Alpine Forget-me-not |
Myosotis asiatica |
F-P |
A-W |
4-10 in |
AK state flower; rock garden alpine, not invasive forget-me-not |
|
MO Evening Primrose |
Oenoth. missouriensis |
F |
D |
6–12 in |
Yellow flowers Jun-Sep; slightly fragrant |
|
dune evening primrose |
Oenothera deltoides |
F |
A-D |
1-3 ft |
Sandy desert biennial; large white flowers age pink; moth-pollinated |
|
Prickly Pear Cactus |
Opuntia spp. |
F |
D |
12 in |
Flowers of yellow, pink, or red bloom Jun-Jul |
|
Elephant's Head |
Pedicularis groenlandica |
F-P |
W |
6–24 in |
Wet meadow specialist; needs saturated soil, often near sedges |
|
Pagoda Penstemon |
Penstemon angustifolius |
F |
A |
12 in |
Comes in various shades of blue to lavender |
|
Scarlet Bugler |
Penstemon barbatus |
F |
A |
24–36 in |
Distinctly bright red corolla, flowers Jun-Sep |
|
Dark Blue Penstemon |
Penstemon cyaneus |
F |
A-D |
12–32 in |
Blue flowers; native to ID/MT/WY, not native to OR/WA. |
|
Hot Rock Penstemon |
Penstemon deustus |
F |
D |
8–24 in |
Small creamy white flowers May-Jun |
|
Firecracker Penstemon |
Penstemon eatonii |
F |
A |
36 in |
Flower stalks lined with bright red flowers |
|
Shrubby Penstemon |
Penstemon fruticosus |
F |
A-D |
6–18 in |
Blue/lavender to light purplish flowers May-Jun |
|
Palmer Penstemon |
Penstemon palmeri |
F |
D-A |
2–4 ft |
Large pink fragrant flowers attract hummingbird |
|
Pine-Leaf Penstemon |
Penstemon pinifolius |
F |
A-D |
6–18 in |
Southwestern native (AZ/NM); not native to ID, OR or WA. |
|
Rydberg's Penstemon |
Penstemon rydbergii |
F-P |
A |
8–28 in |
Bluish-purple flowers in whirls around stem |
|
Showy Penstemon |
Penstemon speciosus |
F-P |
A-D |
12–24 in (to 32 in) |
Blue flowers May-Jul; well-drained soil; not a 2-6 inch plant. |
|
Rocky Mtn. Penstemon |
Penstemon strictus |
F |
A |
12–36 in |
Blue to violet blooms Jun-Jul |
|
Lovely Penstemon |
Penstemon venustus |
F |
A-D |
12–32 in |
Lavender-purple flowers; native locally in ID/OR/WA, not throughout. |
|
Whipple's Penstemon |
Penstemon whippleanus |
F-P |
A |
8–24 in |
Dusky purple or pale flowers; native to ID, not OR/WA. |
|
Prairie Clover |
Petalostem. purpureum |
F |
D |
12–30 in |
Pinkish purple flowers May-Sep; fixes nitrogen |
|
Varileaf Phacelia |
Phacelia heterophylla |
F-P |
A-D |
1-3 ft |
Biennial wildflower, coiled flowers; irritant hairs, wear gloves |
|
Douglas's Phlox |
Phlox douglasii |
F |
D |
2–4 in |
Spiny cushion plant for scree/rock gardens; needs very sharp drainage |
|
longleaf phlox |
Phlox longifolia |
F |
A-D |
4-16 in |
Sagebrush-steppe wildflower; white-pink flowers; very drought tolerant |
|
Showy Phlox |
Phlox speciosa |
F-P |
D |
6-20 in |
Mounding dryland perennial; notched pink flowers in spring |
|
Sticky Cinquefoil |
Potentilla glandulosa |
F-P |
D |
1-2.5 ft |
Rocky, dry sites; sticky glandular foliage; deer resistant |
|
Graceful Cinquefoil |
Potentilla gracilis |
F-P |
D |
1-2 ft |
Deep-rooted meadow wildflower; silvery leaf undersides; deer resistant |
|
Few-flowered Shooting Star |
Primula pauciflora |
F-P |
W-A |
4-16 in |
Spring-wet meadows/seeps only; magenta flowers; summer dormant |
|
Great Basin sage |
Salvia dorrii |
F |
D |
1-3 ft |
Blue-violet spring blooms; needs sharp drainage |
|
yerba buena |
Satureja douglasii |
P-S |
A-W |
1-2 in |
Trailing fragrant groundcover for shade; small white flowers |
|
Oregon checkerbloom |
Sidalcea oregana |
F-P |
A-W |
2-4.5 ft |
Wet meadows; tall pink spikes; needs moist to wet soil |
|
Goldenrod |
Solidago spp. |
F |
A |
2–5 ft |
Yellow flowers cover plant late summer-fall |
|
Desert Globemallow |
Sphaeralcea ambigua |
F |
A |
20–40 in |
Orange to brick red flowers Mar-Jun |
|
Gooseberry-leaf Globe. |
Sphaeralcea grossulariifolia |
F |
D-A |
12–36 in |
Orange flowers; short-lived dryland perennial. Allow some seed for renewal; regional range varies. |
|
Orange Globemallow |
Sphaeralcea munroana |
F |
D-A |
8–32 in |
Apricot-pink to reddish-orange flowers |
|
Prince's Plume |
Stanleya pinnata |
F |
D |
3–4 ft |
Spikes of lacy yellow flowers spring-summer |
|
Douglas Aster |
Symphyotrichum subspicatum |
F-P |
A-W |
1-4 ft |
Wetland native; tolerates seasonal flooding, good for rain gardens |
|
Meadow Death Camas |
Toxicoscordion venenosum |
F-P |
A-D |
8–28 in |
HIGHLY TOXIC if eaten; toxic native wildflower, not for food gardens |
|
coastal/springbank clover |
Trifolium wormskioldii |
F-P |
A-W |
4–12 in |
Native groundcover clover; magenta/white blooms; nitrogen-fixer |
|
Western Trillium |
Trillium ovatum |
P-S |
A-W |
8-16 in |
Never dig from wild; picking the flower can kill the plant |
|
American Stinging Nettle |
Urtica dioica ssp. gracilis |
P-S |
A-W |
3–7 ft |
Stings on contact, wear gloves; native butterfly host plant |
|
California Corn Lily |
Veratrum californicum |
F-P |
W-A |
3–7 ft |
Extremely poisonous wet-meadow perennial; keep from livestock/pets |
|
Goosefoot Violet |
Viola purpurea |
F-P |
D-A |
2-6 in |
Low rock-garden perennial, yellow flowers, very drought tolerant |
|
Arrowleaf Balsamroot |
Wyethia sagittata (syn. Balsamorhiza sagittata) |
F |
D |
12–30 in |
Spring flowers; slow seedling establishment, flowering may take several years; deep taproot |
|
Narrowleaf Yucca |
Yucca glauca |
F |
A |
3–6 ft |
Creamy white bell shaped flowers in July |