Experience - Flowers of Alaska

Fields of Fireweed

As we wander into the Alaskan wilderness (or even just around our back yard) we see flowers everywhere.  Many are small and hard to spot.  This post is a collection of photos of the wildflowers we have found
; it will continue to grow through the seasons as we hike more locations and spot more flowers.  Knowing more about the flowers and plants you see as you walk can make a great hike even better.

I've decided to follow the approach used by the authors of flower books and organize these pictures by color.

White

Northern Bedstraw (Galium boreale)

We found this flower on the lower Homestead Trail in the meadow near the head of the trail. It likes woodlands and meadows.  We saw this flower in early July.

Northern Yarrow (Achillea borealis)

This flower is common across Alaska.   They bloom in multiple clusters on a single plant are are around 2 ft tall.  This batch was in my backyard in Homer.  They bloom in July/August.  This picture was taken in early August, but they had been blooming for at least two weeks. 

Alaskan Spiraea (Spirea Beauverdiana)

Also called Beauverd's Spiraea.  This flower blooms on a low bush that is found in woodland areas and slopes.  This batch was found on the lower Homestead Trail on the side of a hill in late June.                                     

Starflower (Trientalis europea arctica)

This flower is small and low to the ground.  It blooms in woodlands and slopes and is a early bloomer.  This picture was taken in late June, but the flowers were blooming for almost 3 weeks by the time this picture was taken.

Mountain Avens (Dryas octopetala)

This is an early blooming flower found on tundra and high mountain slopes.  This one was found on the glacial moraine near Grewingk Glacier in early June.

Elderberry (Sambucus racemosa)

This plant has clusters of white flowers in June that turn into bright red berries in late June to August.  This picture was taken in early August as the berries in my yard are starting to peak.  The skin and seeds of these berries are poisonous (they contain an arsenic compound).

Alaska Cotton (Eriophorum scheuchzeri)

This flower grows in wet areas.  It is particularly common in ditches.  The flowers are about 1 ft tall.  They bloom in Jun and July.  This photo was taken in a ditch off East End Rd in Homer in early July.

Clover

This is an ubiquitous non-native weed found in yards across North America.  This picture was taken in early July.

Pushki (Heacleum lanatum)

Also called Cow Parsnip and Moose Lettuce, this plant grows in moist fields, meadows, and woodlands across Alaska.  The plant is large with large leaves.  It is also a hazard to bare skin.  The juices from the plant can cause chemical burn and blisters when exposed to sunlight.  Do not burn this plant and wear long sleeves and pants if you plan to cut it.  The flowers are large and attractive and are in bloom from July to August.  When the flower is done, the plant starts to die.

Watermelon Berry (Streptopus amplexifolius)

This plant grows in moist woods and meadows.  This one was found on the Skilak Overlook Trail in the Kenai National Wildlife Refuge, but they are common on most trails.  The flowers turn to small red berries in late summer.  The berries are edible, but bland and not really worth the effort of harvesting.

Dwarf Dogwood (Cornus canadensis)

Also called Bunchberry and Canadian Dwarf Cornel, these common flowers bloom in woods, tundra, and low alpine areas from June to July.  These were photographed on the Winner Creek Trail and the Skilak Overlook Trail.

Shy Maiden (Moneses uniflora)

This flow is small and hard to spot.  It grows in woods throughout much of Alaska.  They bloom from June to July.  These were found on the side of the Winner Creek Trail in Girdwood in late June.

Currently Identified.

Found on the side of the Winner Creek Trail in Girdwood in late June.  Plant appears to like wet, woodland areas.

Yellow

Yellow Willow-herb (Epilobium luteum)

This plant likes to bloom in wet alpine areas.  This plant was found on the side of the Portage Glacier Trail in a wet area below an alpine lake in late July.  The bush was about 1.5 ft high with a 3 ft spread.

Coastal Paintbrush (Castelleja unalaschensis)

A variety of Indian Paintbrush found in woods and sub-alpint meadows.  This one was found on a nordic ski trail off Ohlson Mountain Rd, but they are very common from July through August.  The flower is about 1.5 ft tall.

Elegant Goldenrod (Solidago lepida)

This flower blooms in meadows, fields, and open woodlands across Alaska.  This one was found in my backyard in Homer.  This picture was taken in early August, the flowers had been blooming for about 1 week.

Norwegian Cinqefoil (Potentilla norvegica)

The flower blooms in meadows and woods.  They are common on the sides of trails.  This one was photographed on the Winner Creek Trail behind the Alyeska Lodge in mid June.

Mountain Buttercup (Ranunculus Eschscholtzii)

This flower blooms in meadows along creeks.  This picture was taken on the Winner Creek Trail behind Alyeska Lodge in late June.  

Pink/Red

Arctic Wintergreen (Pyrola asarifloria)

Also called Pink Pyrola.  We found this flower on the side of Rucksack Rd in Homer as we walked to the head of the lower Homestead Trail.  The flower is small on a stalk less than a foot long.  It likes wet woodlands and meadows.  We saw this flower in early July.

Fireweed (Epilobium angustifolium)

This flower can be found all over.  It blooms in meadows and the fringes of woodlands, often in large areas.  The flower is very tall; often as tall as 5-6 ft.  Our favorite locations to see it are on the upper and lower Homestead Trail, Watermelon Trail, and to either side of Ohlson Mountain Rd.  It usually blooms in mid- to late-August, but in warm years and bloom as much as three weeks early.

Dwarf Fireweed (Epilobium latifolium)

Also called River Beauty this species of Fireweed blooms along the sides of streams and on scree slopes.  This batch was photographed on the side of a creek feeding Portage Glacier Lake in late July.

Coastal Fleabane (Erigeron peregrinus)

This daisy-like flower is a member of the aster family.  It blooms in late summer in alpine and sub-alpine meadows.  This one was found near the high point on the Portage Glacier Trail that starts in Whittier in late July.

Hawkweed

This is a non-native flower considered invasive.  This picture was taken in early July.

Salmonberry

This plant has large bright pink flower that turns into an edible fruit in late July / August.  These were photographed on the side of the Portage Glacier Trail in late July.  The berries were mostly not yet ripe (ripe is a rich red), but a few were ready.  The berries are similar in appearance and flavor to raspberries, but larger and a bit sweeter.

Low-Bush Cranberry (Vaccinium vitis idaea)

Also called Lingonberry and Mountain Cranberry, these tiny bushes grow in hummocks in bogs, woods, and alpine slopes.  They bloom from June to July and the berries ripen in autumn.

Prickly Rose (Rosa acicularis)

The roses grow in open woods, clearings and meadows.  They are among the first to grow after a fire or when trees are cleared from an area.  They bloom from June to early July.  These were photographed on the Skilak Overlook Trail in early June.

Blue / Purple

Monkshood (Aconitum delphinifolium)

Monkshood is common across Alaska; we found this one at a pull off next to East Skyline Rd.  It can be found in meadows and woodlands.  It blooms at about the same time as the Fireweed, late August, although it can bloom early in a warm year.  We saw this flower in early August in 2014 (a very warm summer).  This plant is poisonous.

Larkspur (Delphinium glaucum)

This flower can be found in moist meadows and woodlands.  This one was found on a pullout on East Skyline Rd in Homer.  They bloom from July through August; this one was found in late July.  This plant is poisonous.

Wild Geranium (Geranium erianthum)

This flower is common in woodlands, meadows, and alpine areas.  It blooms in late Jun through August.  These were found in early July on the side of the Watermelon Trail, but they are everywhere in the Homer area.

Lupine (Lupinus nootkatensis)

Lupines bloom in June and early July.  They like dry slopes, fields, and roadsides.  This particular variety is a Nootka Lupine.  It was photographed on the Spit in Homer in mid June.

Beach Pea (Lathyrus maritimus)

This flower blooms on beaches, sandy berms, and roadsides from late May to late June.  This one was found on the Spit in Homer in mid June.

Bluebells (Mertensia paniculata)

The pretty flowers bloom in woods and meadows.  Although not rare, these flower are less common than many others in this post.  These were found on the Skilak Overlook Trail in the Kenai National Wildlife Refuge in early June.

Beautiful Jacob's Ladder (Polemonium pulcherriumum)

This plant likes to grow in dry rock areas, fields and roadsides.  This flower was found on the glacial moraine in front of the Grewingk Glacier in early June.

Nangoonberry (Rubus arcticus)

Nangoonberries like stream banks, moist fields, lake margins, tundra, and alpine slopes.  They flower from June through July.  The flowers become raspberry-like berries in August.  The berries are edible and very tasty.

Alaskan Violet (Viola Langsdorfii)

This plant grows in alpine meadows and along streams in the coastal areas.  This flower was photographed on the Winner Creek Trail in late June.

Other Colors

False Helebore (Vreatrum viride)

This is a tall plant (up to 5 ft tall) that grows in meadows.  When I first saw the plant I thought it resembled a Hawaiian Ginger.  The flowers bloom from June to August.  This picture was taken in late July.  This plant is poisonous.

Chocolate Lily (Fritillaria camschatcensis)

This flower blooms from mid-June to mid-July in damp areas, woodlands, and meadows.  It is usually tucked into shady areas on the fringes of heavy growth.  This picture was taken at the Wynn Center in Homer in late June.