Fading Fast

Last Blooms on the Lava

Across Craters of the Moon, some blooms are beginning to fade. Petals drop and colors soften as plants shift from flowering to seed, marking the close of their brief blooming season.

Wondering what is past peak?

These plants are past their peak across the monument. Keep an eye out to catch the last of their color before they fade back into the landscape.

 

NPS Photo

Sagebrush Buttercup (Ranunculus glaberrimus)

Status: Fading Fast

Why it's cool: Sagebrush buttercup blooms in early spring and is often the first wildflower to appear across its range. It is important to know that sagebrush buttercup can be harmful if eaten, so it is best enjoyed with your eyes.

Sagebrush buttercup has bright, cheerful yellow flowers with five to ten petals. It is a low-growing plant that typically grows two to six inches (5-15 cm) tall.