Subalpine Wildflowers - Blue/Purple
Full resolution versions of wildflower photos available on flickr. 
Alpine Aster NPS Photo Alpine Aster A widespread flower in drier meadows and stony slopes (common in the Sunrise area). Distinguished by a single flower head per stem, with a few small, narrow leaves along stem. 
Broadleaf Lupine NPS, Steve Redman Broadleaf Lupine Branched, hairy stems between 12-24 inches (30-60 cm) tall, with 7-8 leaflets per leaf. Abundant in open areas and meadows throughout the park's lower elevations up to about 5,000 feet (1,500 meters), where it tends to get replaced by the smaller but similar-looking Subalpine Lupine (Lupinus articus). 
Cusick's Speedwell NPS Photo Cusick's Speedwell Spreads along slender rootstocks to form loose mats, with dark green tooth-less leaves along the stem. Widespread in meadows and along streams above 5,000 feet (1,500 meters). 
Dwarf Lupine NPS, Chris Roundtree Dwarf Lupine Less than 6 inches (15 cm) tall, this smaller relative of Broadleaf Lupine (Lupinus latifolius) grows at higher elevations in the park, generally above 7,000 feet (2,100 meters). Grows to form mats with a stout, woody base, and silvery leaves with 5-7 leaflets. 
Jeffrey's Shooting Star NPS, Crow Vecchio Jeffrey's Shooting Star Usually grows in clumps, with long (6-16 in/15-40 cm) basal leaves. The distinctive flowers with folded-back petals rise above the leaves on a leafless stem up to 20 inches (50 cm) tall. Common in wet subalpine meadows and along streams. 
Low Jacob's Ladder NPS Photo Low Jacob's Ladder Leaves are mostly basal, with numerous oval to round leaflets, with stems less than 4 inches (10 cm) high. Common on cliffs and rocky ridges, as well as in the meadows at Sunrise. 
Mountain Bog Gentian NPS, Crow Vecchio Mountain Bog Gentian A single flower tops each unbranched stem, with opposite-paired leaves along stem. Common in wet subalpine meadows between 4,500-8,000 feet (approx. 1,400-2,400 meters). 
Tall Bluebells NPS Photo Tall Bluebells Reaching about 3 feet (1 meter) in height, this tall flower has several stems in a tuft with large leaves. The bell-shaped flowers appear pink when a bud, darkening to blue-purple when blooming. Found throughout the park at slighly lower elevations between 2,500-6,500 feet (760-1,980 m), in moist, open areas. |
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Subalpine Wildflowers - White
Identification guide for subalpine wildflower species with white flowers. Read More
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Subalpine Wildflowers - Yellow/Orange
Identification guide for subalpine wildflower species with yellow/orange flowers. Read More
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Subalpine Wildflowers - Pink/Red
Identification guide for subalpine wildflower species with pink/red flowers. Read More
Did You Know?
Floyd Schmoe was Mount Rainier's first full-time Park Naturalist. In 1923, he launched the park's "Nature Notes", a series of writings on various park-related topics. There are hundreds of editions of the notes in the park's collection, all of which are accessible through the Mount Rainier History & Culture webpage: More...