A diverse array of wildflowers can be seen blooming in Whiskeytown from April to June in the lower elevations around the lake. Higher elevation wildflowers in Coggins Park and on Shasta Bally reach their peak from June to August after the snow melts. Wildflowers frequently seen along the trails and roads of Whiskeytown include lupines, brodiaeas, iris, poppies, phlox, sunflowers, buttercups, and monkey flowers. Whiskeytown has many native wildflower species for you to discover. Please help us protect wildflowers by taking only pictures and leaving only memories. Toyon California Buckeye California Fuchsia
Yerba Santa Eriodictyon californicum Best viewed: May-June Flower size: 1-1.5 cm Family: Boraginaceae Habitat: Mixed forest and chaparral Type: Shrub Notes: Yerba Santa is very common throughout Whiskeytown. It has a pungent, bitter flavor that many animals avoid, though it has many traditional uses as a medicine.
Firecracker Flower Dicholostemma ida-maia Best viewed: April-June Flower size: 2-3 cm flowers arranged in an umbel Family: Themidaceae Habitat: Found in mixed forests Type: Perennial herb Notes: Firecracker flowers are common along Davis Gulch trail and South Shore Drive.
Bluedicks Dichelostemma capitatum Best viewed: February-April Flower size: 1-2 cm flowers arranged in an umbel Family: Themidaceae Habitat: Disturbed areas and trailsides Type: Perennial herb Notes: Common along many trails in burned areas of the park.
Common Wooly Sunflower Eriophyllum lanatum Best viewed: May-August Flower size: 2-3 cm Family: Asteraceae Habitat: Open sunny slopes and disturbed areas Type: Perennial herb Notes: Very common along roadsides, trails and areas opened by fire.
Cat’s Ears Chalochortus tolmiei Best viewed: April-June Flower size: 3-5 cm Family: Liliaceae Habitat: Mixed forest and chapparal Type: Perennial herb Notes: Cat’s ears are low growing lilies found in shady forest areas.
Warrior’s Plume Pedicularis densiflora Best viewed: January-April Flower size: Tight clusters of 1-2 cm flowers Family: Orobanchaceae Habitat: Chaparral and foothill woodland Type: Perennial herb Notes: Warrior’s Plume often parasitizes the roots of woody trees or shrubs to obtain additional nutrients.
Coyote Mint Monardella sheltonii Best viewed: June-August Flower size: 1-2 cm Family: Lamiaceae Habitat: Chaparral and mixed forest in serpentine soil Type: Perennial herb Notes: Coyote mint is common along Crystal Creek Road and South Shore Drive in the summer months.
Greyleaf Skullcap Scutellaria siphocampyloides Best viewed: May-September Flower size: 3-4 cm Family: Lamiaceae Habitat: Chaparral and mixed forest communities Type: Perennial herb Notes: Greyleaf Skullcap can be seen at stream crossings and in low areas along the Shasta Mine loop trail.
California Indian Pink Silene laciniata ssp. Californica Best viewed: April-July Flower size: 2-3 cm Family: Caryophyllaceae Habitat: Chaparral and mixed evergreen forest Type: Perennial herb Notes: These flowers are common throughout the park, especially along South Shore Drive and Shasta Mine loop trail.
California Snowdrop Bush Styrax redivivus Best viewed: April-May Flower size: 1.5-2 cm Family: Styracaceae Habitat: Chaparral and foothill woodlands Type: Shrub Notes: Snowdrop bush is common along the Guardian Rock trail and along parts of the Clear Creek Canal Trail.
California Wild Grape Vitis californica Best viewed: May-June Flower size: Clusters of tiny green flowers, mainly composed of filamentous stamens. Family: Vitaceae Habitat: Canyons in mixed woodlands Type: Vine or shrub Notes: The grapes are edible and, although they don’t make an ideal wine grape, they are hardy. Wine grape varies are often grafted onto California grape root stock for disease resistance. They are commonly seen as a vine growing up through trees and shrubs.
Chamise Adenostoma fasciculatum Best viewed: June-August Flower size: Clusters of small flowers Family: Rosaceae Habitat: Chaparral Type: Shrub Notes: Chamise is an indicator species of certain chaparral ecosystems. Chamise contains flammable oils that burn readily in wildfire. Burls at the base of the shrub often re-sprout after fire.
Gray Mule’s Ears Wythia helenioides Best viewed: March-May Flower size: Large flower heads average around 10-12 cm across Family: Asteraceae Habitat: Sunny slopes, oak woodland, roadsides, along trails and in burned areas Type: Perennial herb
Golden Triteleia Triteleia ixioides Best viewed: May-JuneFlower size: 1-1.5 cm Family: Themidaceae Habitat: Foothills and pine forests Type: Perennial herb Notes: A variety of species in this family can be found along the Davis Gulch trail, adding yellow, blue, red and white to the floral palette.
Azure Penstemon Penstemon azureus Best viewed: May-August Flower size: 2 cm Family: Plantanginaceae Habitat: Coniferous forests and woodlands, roadsides Type: Perennial herb
Pinnate Lotus Hosackia pinnata Best viewed: June-August Flower size: 1 cm, arranged in a whorl Family: Fabaceae Habitat: Near seeps, springs and wetlands, foothill forests Type: Perennial herb
Yellow Monkey Flower Erythranthe guttata Best viewed: April-June Flower size: 2 cm Family: PhrymaceaeHabitat: Seeps, springs and wetlands Type: Annual or perennial herb
Pacific Bleeding Heart Dicentra formosa Best viewed: June-July Flower size: 1.5-2 cm Family: Papaveraceae Habitat: Shady canyons, riparian areas Type: Perennial herb
Large-Flowered Collomia Collomia grandiflora Best viewed: June-July Flower size: 1 cmFamily: Polemoniaceae Habitat: Foothill woodlands Notes: May be seen along the Camden Water Ditch in the Tower House Historic District
Snowy Thistle Cirsium occidentale Best viewed: May-July Flower size: 4-5 cm Family: Asteraceae Habitat: Foothill woodland, chaparral, grassland
Lemmon’s Ceanothus Ceanothus lemmonii Best viewed: April-May Flower size: Clusters of tiny flowers Family: Rhamnaceae Habitat: Foothill woodland
Purple Milkweed Asclepias cordifolia Best viewed: March-July Flower size: 1 cm Family: Apocyanaceae Habitat: Foothill woodland, chaparral
Henderson’s Shooting Star Primula hendersonii Best viewed: February-April Flower size: 1.5-2 cm Family: Primulaceae Habitat: Foothill woodland, chaparral, grassland |
Last updated: November 5, 2020