Rocky Mountain Day Hikes

Wildflowers by Classification

These are some of the wildflowers of Rocky Mountain National Park. They are organized by Families. 
Click on an image for larger size.
Monocotyledons, also known as monocots, are one of the major groups into which flowering plants are divided. Monocot seedlings typically have one cotyledon (seed-leaf).
Order  Liliales
     Family  Iridaceae – Iris family
     Family  Liliaceae – Lily family
Order  Orchidales
     Family  Orchidaceae – Orchid family

Iris Family (Iridaceae)

Picture
Rocky Mountain iris, Blue Flag iris
Iris missouriensis
Montane
May-June
 Picture
Rocky Mountain iris, 
Blue Flag iris
Iris missouriensis
Montane
May-June
 Picture
Rocky Mountain iris, 
Blue Flag iris
Iris missouriensis
Montane
May-June

Lily Family (Liliaceae)

Picture
Nodding onion 
Allium cernuum
Montane
Early summer
 Picture
Mariposa lily
Calochortus gunnisonii
Montane
June-early July
 Picture
Mariposa lily
Calochortus gunnisonii
Montane
June-early July
 Picture

Yellow avalanche lily 
Erythronium grandiflorum
Alpine, Subalpine, 
July-Aug
Picture
Common starlily, Sand lily
Leucocrinum montanum
Montane, May-June
 Picture
Alplily, Alpine lily 
Lloydia serotina
Alpine
 Picture
Starry false lily of the valley, 
False solomon's seal
Maianthemum stellatum
Montane
May-July
Picture
Fairy Bells
Prosartes trachycarpa
Subalpine, Montane 
Jul-Aug
 Picture
Mountain death camas,
Wand lily 
Zigadenus elegans 
Alpine, Subalpine, Montane

Orchid Family (Orchidaceae)

Picture

Fairy slipper
Calypso bulbosa
Subalpine, Montane
 Picture
Fairy slipper
Calypso bulbosa
Subalpine, Montane
 Picture
Hooded lady's tresses
Spiranthes romanzoffiana
Subalpine, Montane
 Picture
Hooded lady's tresses
Spiranthes romanzoffiana
Subalpine, Montane
Picture
Summer coralroot
Corallorhiza maculata
Montane
 Picture
Summer coralroot
Corallorhiza maculata
Montane
        Class  Magnoliopsida – Dicotyledons

The dicotyledons, also known as dicots, were one of the two groups into which all the flowering plants or angiosperms were formerly divided. The name refers to one of the typical characteristics of the group, namely that the seed typically has two embryonic leaves or cotyledons.  
Subclass  Asteridae
    Order  Asterales
       Family  Asteraceae – Aster family
    Order  Campanulales
       Family  Campanulaceae – Bellflower family
   Order  Dipsacales
       Family  Caprifoliaceae – Honeysuckle family
       Family  Valerianaceae – Valerian family
    Order  Gentianales
       Family  Apocynaceae – Dogbane family
       Family  Asclepiadaceae – Milkweed family
       Family  Gentianaceae – Gentian family
   Order  Lamiales
       Family  Boraginaceae – Borage family
       Family  Lamiaceae – Mint family
    Order Plantaginales
       Family Plataginaceae - Plantain
    Order  Rubiales
       Family  Rubiaceae – Madder family
    Order  Scrophulariales
       Family  Scrophulariaceae – Figwort family
​       Family Orobanchaceae - Broom-rape Family
    Order  Solanales
      Family  Hydrophyllaceae – Waterleaf family
      Family  Polemoniaceae – Phlox family

Aster family (Asteraceae / Compositae)

Picture
Western yarrow 
Achillea millefolium
Alpine, Subalpine, Montane
June-Aug
 Picture
Western yarrow 
Achillea millefolium
Alpine, Subalpine, Montane
June-Aug
 Picture
Rydbergia, 
Old-man-of-the-mountain, 
Graylocks four-nerve daisy 
Tetraneuris grandiflora
Alpine
 Picture
Rydbergia, 
Old-man-of-the-mountain, 
Graylocks four-nerve daisy 
Tetraneuris grandiflora
Alpine
Picture
Rock ragwort 
Senecio fremontii
Alpine
 Picture
Pussytoes 
Antennaria rosea
Subalpine, Montane
 Picture
Pussytoes 
Antennaria rosea
Subalpine, Montane
 Picture
Tansy aster 
Machaeranthera bigelovii
Subalpine, Montane
Aug-Sep
Picture
Pearly everlasting 
Anaphalis margaritacea
Subalpine, Montane
July-Aug
 Picture
Pearly everlasting 
Anaphalis margaritacea
Subalpine, Montane
July-Aug
 Picture
Heartleaf arnica 
Arnica cordifolia
Subalpine, Montane
late summer
 Picture
Heartleaf arnica 
Arnica cordifolia
Subalpine, Montane
late summer
Picture
Sun-loving Pussytoes 
Antennaria parvifolia
Subalpine, Montane
 Picture
Alpine sagewort
Artemisia scopulorum
Subalpine
 Picture
Cutleaf daisy 
Erigeron coulteri
Montane
 Picture
Cutleaf daisy 
Erigeron coulteri
Montane
Picture
Blue aspen daisy 
Erigeron speciosus
Montane
 Picture
Blue aspen daisy 
Erigeron speciosus
Montane
 Picture
Meadow arnica 
Arnica fulgens
Montane
May - June
 Picture
Meadow arnica 
Arnica fulgens
Montane
May - June
Picture
Blanketflower, Gaillardia 
Gaillardia aristata
Montane
June-Aug
 Picture
Blanketflower, Gaillardia 
Gaillardia aristata
Montane
June-Aug
 Picture
Tall cone-flower, 
Cutleaf coneflower 
Rudbeckia laciniata
Montane
July-Sept
 Picture
Tall cone-flower, 
Cutleaf coneflower 
Rudbeckia laciniata
Montane
July-Sept
Picture
Broom senecio
Senecio spartiodes
Montane
Late summer
 Picture
Fendler's senecio 
Packera fendleri
Montane
May-July
 Picture
Early spring senecio 
Senecio integerrimus
Montane
 Picture
Early spring senecio 
Senecio integerrimus
Montane
Picture
Gay feather, 
Blazing star 
Liatris punctata
Montane
Aug-Sept
 Picture
Gay feather, 
Blazing star 
Liatris punctata
Montane
Aug-Sept
 Picture
Salsify, Oyster-plant 
Tragopogon dubius
Montane
 Picture
Salsify, Oyster-plant 
Tragopogon dubius
Montane
Picture
 

Montane
Apr - June
 Picture
Tasselflower
Brickella grandiflora
Montane
​July - August
 Picture
Tasselflower
Brickella grandiflora
Montane
​July - August

Bellflower Family (Campanulaceae)

Picture
Harebell, Bluebell bellflower 
Campanula rotundifolia
Alpine, Subalpine, Montane
 Picture
Harebell, Bluebell bellflower 
Campanula rotundifolia
Alpine, Subalpine, Montane

Honeysuckle Family (Caprifoliaceae)

Picture
Twinflower 
Linnaea borealis
Subalpine, Montane
 Picture
Twinflower 
Linnaea borealis
Subalpine, Montane

Gentian Family (Gentianaceae)

Picture
Arctic gentian 
Gentiana algida
Alpine, Subalpine
 Picture
Arctic gentian 
Gentiana algida
Alpine, Subalpine
 Picture
Green gentian, Elkweed 
Frasera speciosa
Subalpine, Montane
 Picture
Parry gentian 
Gentiana parryi
Subalpine, Montane
Aug
Picture
Rocky Mountain fringed gentian 
Gentianopsis thermalis
Subalpine, Montane
Aug
 Picture
Rocky Mountain fringed gentian 
Gentianopsis thermalis
Subalpine, Montane
Aug
 Picture
Star gentian, felwort 
Swertia perennis
Subalpine, Montane

Borage Family (Boraginaceae)

Picture
Alpine forget-me-not 
Eritrichium nanum
Alpine
July-Aug
 Picture
Alpine forget-me-not 
Eritrichium nanum
Alpine
July-Aug
 Picture
Alpine chiming bells 
Mertensia oblongifolia
 Picture
Alpine chiming bells 
Mertensia oblongifolia
Picture
Tall chiming bells Mertensia ciliata
Subalpine, Montane
June-Aug

 Picture
Tall chiming bells 
Mertensia ciliata
Subalpine, Montane
June-Aug
 Picture
Miner's candle
Cryptantha virgata
Montane
May-July
 Picture
Lanceleaf chiming bells 
Mertensia lanceolata
Montane
Early spring
Picture
Many-flowered puccoon 
Lithospermum multiflorum
Montane
May-July
 Picture
Many-flowered puccoon 
Lithospermum multiflorum
Montane
May-July
 Picture
Narrow-leaf puccoon 
Lithospermum incisum
Montane
May-July
 Picture
Narrow-leaf puccoon 
Lithospermum incisum
Montane
May-July

Mint Family (Lamiaceae)

Picture
Skullcap 
Scutellaria brittonii
Montane
May-July
 Picture
Horsemint 
Monarda fistulosa 
Montane
June-Aug
 Picture
Horsemint 
Monarda fistulosa 
Montane
June-Aug

Plantain Family (Plataginaceae​)

Picture









​Rocky Mountain penstemon 
Penstemon strictus
Montane
June-July
 Picture












​Blue mist penstemon 
Penstemon virens
Subalpine, Montane
June-July
 Picture








​Blue mist penstemon 
Penstemon virens
Subalpine, Montane
June-July

Madder Family (Rubiaceae)

Picture
Bedstraw 
Galium boreale
Montane
June-Aug

Broom-rape Family (Orobanchaceae)

Picture
Western yellow paintbrush
Castilleja occidentalis
Alpine, Subalpine
June-Aug
 Picture













​Rosy paintbrush
Castilleja rhexiifolia
Alpine, Subalpine
July-Aug
 Picture
Scarlet paintbrush 
Castilleja miniata
Montane
June-July
Picture












​Indian paintbrush, 
Wyoming paintbrush 
Castilleja linariifolia
Montane
June-July
 Picture
Indian paintbrush, 
Wyoming paintbrush 
Castilleja linariifolia
Montane
June-July
 Picture
Indian paintbrush, 
Wyoming paintbrush 
Castilleja linariifolia
Montane
June-July

Lopseed Family (Phrymaceae)

Picture
Subalpine monkeyflower 
Mimulus tilingii
Subalpine, Montane
June-Aug

Figwort Family (Scrophulariaceae)

Picture
Little red elephant, 
Elephanthead lousewort 
Pedicularis groenlandica
Alpine, Subalpine
 Picture
Little red elephant, 
Elephanthead lousewort 
Pedicularis groenlandica
Alpine, Subalpine
Picture
Parry Lousewort 
Pedicularis parryi
Alpine, Subalpine
July-Aug
 Picture
Sickletop Lousewort 
Pedicularis racemosa
Subalpine, Montane
Picture
Blue-eyed mary 
Collinsia parviflora
Montane
April-July

Waterleaf Family (Hydrophyllaceae)

Picture
Purple fringe, 
Purple pincushion 
Phacelia sericea
Alpine, Subalpine
 Picture
Purple fringe, 
Purple pincushion 
Phacelia sericea
Alpine, Subalpine
 Picture
Purple fringe, 
Purple pincushion 
Phacelia sericea
Alpine, Subalpine

Phlox Family (Polemoniaceae)

Picture
Alpine phlox 
Phlox pulvinata
Alpine
 Picture
Sky pilot 
Polemonium viscosum
Alpine
June-July
 Picture
Sky pilot 
Polemonium viscosum
Alpine
June-July
 Picture
Sky pilot 
Polemonium viscosum
Alpine
June-July
Picture
Jacob's ladder 
Polemonium pulcherrimum
Subalpine
July-Aug
 Picture
Fairy trumpet, Scarlet gilia
Ipomopsis aggregata
Montane
July-Aug
Subclass  Caryophyllidae
   Order  Caryophyllales
      Family  Cactaceae – Cactus family
      Family  Caryophyllaceae – Pink family
      Family  Chenopodiaceae – Goosefoot family
      Family  Nyctaginaceae – Four o'clock family
      Family  Portulacaceae – Purslane family
   Order  Polygonales
      Family  Polygonaceae – Buckwheat family

Cactus Family (Cactaceae)

Picture
Mountain ball cactus 
Pediocactus simpsonii
Montane
Late May-June
 Picture
Mountain ball cactus 
Pediocactus simpsonii
Montane
Late May-June
 Picture
Mountain ball cactus 
Pediocactus simpsonii
Montane
Late May-June

Pink Family (Caryophyllaceae)

Picture
Moss campion
Silene acaulis
Alpine
June-Aug
 Picture
Moss campion
Silene acaulis
Alpine
June-Aug
 Picture
Alpine sandwort, 
Twinflower sandwort
Minuartia obtusiloba
Alpine
 Picture
Alpine sandwort, Twinflower sandwort
Minuartia obtusiloba
Alpine
Picture
Mouse-ear chickweed
Cerastium arvense
Alpine, Subalpine, Montane
 Picture
Fendler's sandwort
Arenaria fendleri
Subalpine, Montane
 Picture
Fendler's sandwort
Arenaria fendleri
Subalpine, Montane

Goosefoot Family (Chenopodiceae)

Picture
Strawberry blite
Chenopodium capitatum
Montane
Late summer

Purslane Family (Portulacaceae)

Picture
Alpine springbeauty
Claytonia megarhiza
Alpine
 Picture
Pygmy bitterroot
Lewisia pygmaea
Alpine, Subalpine
 Picture
Spring beauty
Claytonia lanceolata
Montane
 Picture
Spring beauty
Claytonia lanceolata
Montane

Buckwheat Family (Polygonaceae)

Picture
Alpine sorrel
Oxyria digyna
Alpine
 Picture
Bistort
Polygonum bistortoides
Alpine, Subalpine
 Picture
Sulphur-flower
Eriogonum umbellatum
Montane
 Picture
Sulphur-flower
Eriogonum umbellatum
Montane
Subclass  Dilleniidae
    Order  Capparales
       Family  Brassicaceae – Mustard family
       Family  Capparaceae – Caper family
    Order  Ericales
       Family  Ericaceae – Heath family
       Family  Monotropaceae – Indian Pipe family
       Family  Pyrolaceae – Shinleaf family
    Order  Malvales
       Family  Malvaceae – Mallow family
    Order  Primulales
       Family  Primulaceae – Primrose family
    Order  Salicales
       Family  Salicaceae – Willow family
    Order  Theales
       Family  Clusiaceae – Mangosteen family
    Order  Violales
       Family  Loasaceae – Loasa family
       Family  Violaceae – Violet family

Mustard Family (Brassicaceae)

Picture
Alpine pennycress, 
Mountain candytuft
Noccaea fendleri
Alpine, Subalpine, Montane
 Picture
Twisted-pod draba
Draba streptocarpa
Alpine, Subalpine, Montane
 Picture
Wallflower 
Erysimum capitatum
Alpine, Subalpine, Montane
 Picture
Golden draba 
Draba aurea
Subalpine, Montane
Picture
Bitter cress 
Cardamine cordifolia
Subalpine, Montane
 Picture
Bitter cress 
Cardamine cordifolia
Subalpine, Montane
 Picture
Mountain bladderpod 
Lesquerella montana
Montane
May-June
 Picture
Penny cress 
Thlaspi arvense
Montane
May-July
Picture
Western wallflower 
Erysimum asperum
Montane
 Picture
Western wallflower 
Erysimum asperum
Montane

Caper Family (Capparidaceae)

Picture
Rocky Mountain beeplant 
Cleome serrulata
Montane
 Picture
Rocky Mountain beeplant 
Cleome serrulata
Montane

Heath Family (Ericaceae)

Picture
Mountain laurel 
Kalmia microphylla
Subalpine
July-Aug
 Picture
Mountain laurel 
Kalmia microphylla
Subalpine
July-Aug
 Picture
Kinnikinnick 
Arctostaphylos uva-ursi
Montane
 Picture
Kinnikinnick 
Arctostaphylos uva-ursi
Montane
Picture
Woodland pinedrops
Pterospora andromedea
Montane
 Picture












​Green pyrola, Greenflowered wintergreen 
Pyrola chlorantha
Subalpine
June-July
 Picture












​Bog wintergreen 
Pyrola asarifolia
Subalpine, Montane 
July-Aug

Indian Pipe Family (Monotropaceae)

Shinleaf Family (Pyrolaceae)

Picture
Woodnymph 
Moneses uniflora
Subalpine
 Picture
Pipsissewa 
Chimaphila umbellata
Montane
 Picture
Pipsissewa 
Chimaphila umbellata
Montane

Primrose Family (Primlaceae)

Picture
Fairy primrose, Alpine primrose 
Primula angustifolia
Alpine
June-Aug
 Picture
Rock jasmine 
Androsace chamaejasme
Alpine
 Picture
Parry primrose 
Primula parryi
Alpine, Subalpine
July-Aug
 Picture
Shooting star 
Dodecatheon pulchellum
Subalpine, Montane
June-July

Violet Family (Violaceae)

Picture
Mountain Blue violet 
Viola adunca
Subalpine, Montane
 Picture
Canadian violet 
Viola canadensis
Montane
May-July
Subclass  Magnoliidae
    Order  Nymphaeales
       Family  Nymphaeaceae – Water-lily family
    Order  Papaverales
       Family  Fumariaceae – Fumitory family
       Family  Papaveraceae – Poppy family
    Order  Ranunculales
       Family  Berberidaceae – Barberry family
       Family  Ranunculaceae – Buttercup family

Waterlily (Nymphaeaceae)

Picture
Yellow pond-lily 
Nuphar lutea
June-Sept
 Picture
Yellow pond-lily 
Nuphar lutea
June-Sept

Fumitory Family (Fumariaceae)

Picture
Golden smoke, Scrambled eggs
Corydalis aurea
Montane
May-Aug
 Picture
Golden smoke, Scrambled eggs
Corydalis aurea
Montane
May-Aug

Barberry Family (Berberidaceae)

Picture
Oregon grape, Creeping barberry
Mahonia repens
Montane
Apr-June

Buttercup Family (Ranunculaceae)

Picture
Alpine anemone, 
Narcissus anemone
Anemone narcissiflor 
Alpine, Subalpine
July-Aug
 Picture
Alpine anemone, 
Narcissus anemone
Anemone narcissiflor 
Alpine, Subalpine
July-Aug
 Picture
White marsh marigold
Caltha leptosepala
Alpine, Subalpine
Jun-Aug
 Picture
White marsh marigold
Caltha leptosepala
Alpine, Subalpine
Jun-Aug
Picture
Globeflower
Trollius laxus
Alpine, Subalpine
June-Aug
 Picture
Globeflower
Trollius laxus
Alpine, Subalpine
June-Aug
 Picture
Monkshood 
Aconitum columbianum
Subalpine, Montane
 Picture
Monkshood 
Aconitum columbianum
Subalpine, Montane
Picture
Subalpine larkspur
Delphinium barbeyi
Subalpine
 Picture
Colorado blue columbine
Aquilegia coerulea
Subalpine, Montane
Jul-Aug
 Picture
Colorado blue columbine
Aquilegia coerulea
Subalpine, Montane
Jul-Aug
 Picture
Rock clematis
Clematis columbiana
Montane
Picture
Tall larkspur 
Delphinium occidentale
Montane 
July-Aug
 Picture
Indian paintbrush, 
Wyoming paintbrush 
Castilleja linariifolia
Montane
June-July
Picture
Tall larkspur 
Delphinium occidentale
Montane 
July-Aug
 Picture
Nelson larkspur, 
twolobe larkspur 
Delphinium nuttallianum
Montane
Spring and early summer
 Picture
Nelson larkspur, 
twolobe larkspur 
Delphinium nuttallianum
Montane
Spring and early summer
Picture
Pasqueflower 
Pulsatilla patens
Montane
Early spring
 Picture
Pasqueflower 
Pulsatilla patens
Montane
Early spring
 Picture
Sagebrush buttercup
Ranunculus glaberrimus
Montane
Mar-June
 Picture
Sagebrush buttercup
Ranunculus glaberrimus
Montane
Mar-June
Subclass  Rosidae
    Order  Apiales
       Family  Apiaceae – Carrot family
    Order  Fabales
       Family  Fabaceae – Pea family
    Order  Geraniales
       Family  Geraniaceae – Geranium family
    Order  Linales
       Family  Linaceae – Flax family
    Order  Myrtales
       Family  Onagraceae – Evening Primrose family
    Order  Rosales
       Family  Crassulaceae – Stonecrop family
       Family  Rosaceae – Rose family
       Family  Saxifragaceae – Saxifrage family

Parsnip/Parsley Family (Apiaceae)

Picture
Cow parsnip 
Heracleum maximum
Montane
June-Aug
 Picture
Whiskbroom parsley 
Harbouria trachypleura
Montane
May-July

Pea/Legume Family (Fabaceae)

Picture
Dwarf clover
Trifolium nanum
Alpine
June-July
 Picture
Rose clover, Parry's clover
Trifolium parryi
Alpine, Subalpine
June-July
 Picture
Golden banner
Thermopsis divaricarpa
Subalpine, Montane
June-early July
 Picture
Golden banner
Thermopsis divaricarpa
Subalpine, Montane
June-early July
Picture
Lambert loco 
Oxytropis lambertii
Montane
 Picture
Lambert loco 
Oxytropis lambertii
Montane
 Picture
Parry vetch 
Astragalus parryi
Montane

Flax Family (Linaceae)

Picture
Blue flax, Lewis flax 
Linum lewisii
Montane
May-Aug

Evening Primrose Family (Onagraceae)

Picture
Fireweed 
Chamerion angustifolium
Subalpine, Montane
July-Aug
 Picture
White stemless evening-primrose 
Oenothera caespitosa
Montane
June-Aug

Stonecrop Family (Crassulaceae)

Picture
King's crown
Rhodiola integrifolia
Alpine, Subalpine
June-Aug
 Picture
King's crown
Rhodiola integrifolia
Alpine, Subalpine
June-Aug
 Picture
Rose or Queen's crown 
Rhodiola rhodantha
Alpine, Subalpine
June-Aug
 Picture
Yellow stonecrop
Sedum lanceolatum
Alpine, Subalpine, Montane

Rose Family (Rosaceae)

Picture
Mountain dryad
Dryas octopetala
Alpine
July-Aug
 Picture
Alpine avens 
Geum rossii
Alpine, Subalpine
June-Aug
 Picture
Wild strawberry 
Fragaria virginiana ssp. glauca
Subalpine
Montane
 Picture
Leafy cinquefoil 
Potentilla fissa
Montane
May-Aug

Saxifrange Family (Saxifragaceae)

Picture
Fivestamen miterwort, 
Bishop's cap 
Mitella pentandra
Subalpine, Montane
July-Aug
 Picture
Dotted saxifrage 
Saxifraga bronchialis
Subalpine, Montane
 Picture
Dotted saxifrage 
Saxifraga bronchialis
Subalpine, Montane
 Picture
Snowball saxifrage, Diamondleaf saxifrage Saxifraga rhomboidea
Subalpine, Montane
Early spring
Picture
Green pyrola, 
Greenflowered wintergreen 
Pyrola chlorantha
Subalpine
June-July
(Estes Hiking Page)