Summer Flowers - Woodlands - White and Cream-colored
Maple-leaf Alumroot; Heuchera villosa
Saxifrage Family Alumroots like to grow on rock ledges. I found this blooming on the Cumberland Plateau in July. Perennial Where seen:Big South Fork NRRA, Piney River SNA, Piney Falls Pocket Wilderness, Pickett SP , Great Smoky Mountains NP
White Wood Aster; Aster divaricatus
Aster Family This is a common woodland Aster. Look for it in August. Perennial Where seen:Big South Fork NRRA, Warriors' Path SP
Long-leafed Bluet; Hedyotis longilolia
Madder Family Height: 12" July 27, 2005 I found this plant blooming at Haw Ridge when I was on my quest to find the Spider Lily. It was growing between the rocks on one of the mountain bike trails. Perennial Where seen: Haw Ridge Greenway
June 29, 2013 Great Smoky Mountains NP This plant was blooming along the Gregory Bald trail. The flowers are mealy.
Poke Milkweed; Asclepias exaltata
Roan Mountain State Park June 23,2007 Tennessee has 13 species of milkweeds. This the flowers of this species have long stems and the "horns" are much longer than those in other species. This plant was growing in the woods near the picnic area in the park.
Close-up of Helleborine Orchid
Small-flowered Alumroot; Heuchera parviflora
Saxifrage Family The rock cliffs below Piney Falls in Grandview were covered with these plants and their tiny white flowers. They were blooming in July. Perennial Where seen:Piney River SNA, Piney Falls Pocket Wilderness, Pickett SP
Whorled Wood Aster; Aster acuminatus
Aster Family Notice how the inner flowers turn purple as they age. I found this plant growing at the Piney River State Natural Area in August 2003. Perennial Where seen:Piney River SNA
Upland Boneset (type 1); Eupatorium sessilifolium
Aster Family I found this plant blooming along the Angel Falls Overlook Trail in Big South Fork in late August. This is a good trail to see flowers. Perennial Where seen:Big South Fork NRRA
Colicroot I saw this Colicroot blooming along the Gregory Bald Trail in the Smokies on 6-29-13. Note the mealy flowers.
- close-up
Helleborine Orchid; Epipactis helleborine*
Orchid family Great Smoky Mountains NP July 11, 2007 I was surprised to see this orchid blooming in the Smokies since I had only seen it in western Massachusetts previously. It is a European import, that according to my Native Orchids of the Southern Appalachian Mountains book, grows only in the Smokies in Tennessee. Following photo shows close-up of flowers.
Black Cohosh; Bugbane - Close-up of individual flowers; Cimicifuga racemosa
Bugbane is in the Buttercup family.
Bowman's Root; Porteranthus trifoliatus
Rose Family "Trifoliatus" refers to the three leaflets of the leaves. Perennial Where seen: Big South Fork NRRA, Piney River Pocket Wilderness, Great Smoky Mountains
Featherbells; Stenanthium gramineum
Lily Family August 2005 The leaves of this plant look like grass, as the species name alludes to. It has an unusual blooming habit of a spike above and drooping branches below. This one was blooming on Max Patch in North Carolina, not far from the Smokies. A close-up photo follows. Perennial Where seen:Piney River State Natural Area, Great Smoky Mountains NP
Mountain Ash; Sorbus americana
Rose Family July 11, 2006 As I was leading a hike to Charlie's Bunion high in the Smokies, I kept seeing tiny white flower petals scattered on the trail like confetti. It turns out they were from the Mountain Ash. Later in the fall, there will be beautiful bright red berries on the trees. Tree Where seen: Great Smoky Mountains NP Formerly known as: Pyrus americana map...
Partridge Berry; Mitchella repens
Madder Family Partridge Berry is a common evergreen ground cover. The double ovaries of these twin flowers form a single red berry. Where seen:Great Smoky Mountains NP, Frozen Head SP, Pickett SP, Cherokee NF, Piney Falls SNA, Piney River Pocket Wilderness, Laurel-Snow Pocket Wilderness
American Ipecac; Indian Physic; Porteranthus stipulatus
Rose Family This plant looks similar to its close relative, Bowman's Root. The flowers have shorter petals and the leaves are different. This plant blooms during late spring and early summer. It is a member of the Rose family. Perennial Where seen: Big South Fork NRRA, Piney River Pocket Wilderness
Hairy Blueberry; Vaccinium hirsutum
Heath Family Height to 12" June 26, 2005 These flowers were pink, but most of the others I saw were white (this just turned out to be the best picture!). I found these plants growing along the Gregory Ridge Trail in the Smokies. As the species name indicates, the flowers, leaves, and berries are covered with stiff hairs. Note the developing fruits; I'm not sure if they are edible. Perennial Where seen: Great Smoky Mountains National Park
Starry Campion; Silene stellata
Pink Family The fringed petals of this flower are interesting! I found these flowers blooming along the Angel Falls Overlook trail in Big South Fork National River and Recreation Area in mid-August. It has whorled leaves in groups of 4's. The plant is in the Pink Family. Perennial Where seen:Big South Fork NRRA, Great Smoky Mountains NP
close-up
Oak Leaf Hydrangea; Hydrangea quercifolia
Saxifrage Family Shrub - to 6' June 10, 2006 I saw a lot of these shrubs blooming at Norris Dam State Park. The large white flowers are sterile, they are "attention getters" to draw the pollinators to the smaller flowers below. Perennial Where seen: Cumberaland Mountain State Park, Norris Dam SP
Snapdragon Family Height to 16" June 26, 2005 This little yellow and white flower is only 1/4" to 1/2" long, so it is easy to miss as you hike through the forest in the summertime. I found this one blooming along the Gregory's Ridge trail in the Smokies. Annual Where seen: Great Smoky Mountains National Park