NPS Photo Despite the seemingly barren nature of the cinder cones and lava fields, spectacular floral displays occur at Craters of the Moon each spring. Peak bloom for spring wildflowers generally occurs in mid-June. Starting with the arrival of the wild onion in late April and ending with the disappearance of the yellow blossoms of the rabbitbrush in September, some variety of wildflower can be found blooming within the monument's boundaries. The ability to grow in this harsh environment means overcoming a lack of moisture, meager soil, and surface temperatures that exceed 150 degrees Fahrenheit. Many of the unusual characteristics of the wildflowers are adaptations for survival in this extreme environment. Learn More
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Common Name | Scientific Name | Family |
Yellow Flowers | ||
Arrow-Leaved Balsamroot | Balsamorhiza sagittata | Sunflower |
Hawksbeard | Crepis (4 species) | Sunflower |
Mountain Dandelion | Agoseris glauca | Sunflower |
Salsify (Introduced) | Tragopogon dubius | Sunflower |
Groundsel | Senecio (4 species) | Sunflower |
Buckwheats | Eriogonum (24 varieties) | Buckwheat |
Desert Parsley | Cymopterus terebinthinus | Carrot |
Gland Cinquefoil | Potentilla glandulosa | Rose |
Leopard Lily | Fritillaria atropurpurea | Lily |
Wayside Gromwell | Lithospermum ruderale | Borage |
Hairy Golden-Aster | Heterotheca villosa | Sunflower |
Sukdorf’s Monkeyflower | Mimulus suksdorfii | Snapdragon |
White Stem Stickleaf | Mentzelia albicaulis | Loasa |
Nuttalls Violet | Viola nutallii | Violet |
Blazingstar | Mentzelia laevicaulis | Loasa |
Prickly Pear cactus | Opuntia polyacantha | Cactus |
Mullein (Introduced) | Verbascum thapsus | Snapdragon |
Red / Purple / Blue Flowers | ||
Indian Paintbrush | Castilleja (8 species) | Snapdragon |
Dwarf Monkeyflower | Mimulus nanus | Snapdragon |
Wild Onion | Allium (5 species) | Lily |
Scarlet Gilia | Gilia aggregata | Phlox |
Wire Lettuce | Stephanomeria tenuifolia | Sunflower |
Joe Pye Weed | Eupatorium occidentale | Sunflower |
Hoary Aster | Machaeranthera canescens | Sunflower |
Fernleaf Fleabane | Erigeron compositus | Sunflower |
Blue Penstemon | Penstemon cyaneus | Snapdragon |
Lupine | Lupinus (14 varieties) | Pea |
Anderson Larkspur | Delphinium andersonii | Buttercup |
Scorpionweed | Phacelia hastata | Waterleaf |
Blue-eyed Mary | Collinsia parviflora | Snapdragon |
Rockcress | Arabis (14 varieties) | Mustard |
Spiney Skeleton Plant | Stephanomeria spinosa | Sunflower |
White Flowers | ||
Bitterroot | Lewisia rediviva | Purslane |
Sego Lily | Calochortus nuttallii | Lily |
Cryptantha | Cryptantha (10 species) | Borage |
Scabland Penstemon | Penstemon deustus | Snapdragon |
Lava Phlox | Leptodactylon pungens | Phlox |
Dusty Maiden | Chaenactis douglasii | Sunflower |
Western Yarrow | Achillea millefolium | Sunflower |
Slender Woodland Star | Lithophragma tenellum | Saxafrage |
Ground Smoke | Gayophytum (6 species) | Primrose |
Coyote Tobacco | Nicotiana attenuata | Nightshade |
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Last updated: March 27, 2023