Skip to main content

U.S. Forest Service


Plant of the Week

Enjoy Your Wildflowers

Thousands of wildflowers grow on our national forests and grasslands, in many shapes, sizes, and colors. A field of wildflowers or colorful plants upon a lush forest floor is a beautiful sight, but so is a single flower or scattered plants growing upon what at first glance may appear to be a dry and desolate landscape.

Celebrating Wildflowers periodically features a different wildflower plant found on our national forests and grasslands.

The Plant of the Week descriptions are organized alphabetically by genus and species.

A  B  C  D  E  F  G  H  I  J  K  L  M  N  O  P  Q  R  S  T  U  V  W  X  Y  Z  All

Gallery: A

Common Yarrow (Achillea millefolium). Common Yarrow (Achillea millefolium)

Indian Ricegrass, Achnatherum hymenoides. Indian Ricegrass (Achnatherum hymenoides)

Sweet Flag (Acorus americanus) Sweet Flag (Acorus americanus)

Ohio Buckeye (Aesculus glabra). Ohio Buckeye (Aesculus glabra)

hreadleaf giant hyssop, Agastache rupestris Threadleaf giant hyssop (Agastache rupestris)

Parry’s Agave (Agave parryi) Parry’s Agave (Agave parryi)

Smallflower Century Plant (Agave parviflora). Smallflower Century Plant (Agave parviflora)

Orange Mountain Dandelion (Agoseris aurantiaca). Orange Mountain Dandelion (Agoseris aurantiaca)

Colic Root (Aletris farinosa) Colic Root (Aletris farinosa)

Brandegee’s Onion (Allium brandegeei) Brandegee’s Onion (Allium brandegeei)

Sugarstick. Sugarstick (Allotropa virgata)

Pearly Everlasting (Anaphalis margaritacea). Pearly Everlasting (Anaphalis margaritacea)

Big bluestem (Andropogon gerardii). Big bluestem (Andropogon gerardii)

Sweetflower Rock Jasmine (Androsace chamaejasme ssp. carinata Sweetflower Rock Jasmine (Androsace chamaejasme ssp. carinata)

Canada Anemone (Anemone canadensis). Canada Anemone (Anemone canadensis)

Carolina Anemone (Anemone caroliniana). Carolina Anemone (Anemone caroliniana)

Meadow pussytoes (Antennaria arcuata). Meadow Pussytoes (Antennaria arcuata)

Rosy Pussytoes (Antennaria rosea). Rosy Pussytoes (Antennaria rosea)

Spreading Dogbane (Apocynum androsaemifolium). Spreading Dogbane (Apocynum androsaemifolium)

Colorado Columbine, Aquilegia caerulea. Colorado Columbine (Aquilegia caerulea)

Red or Eastern Columbine, Aquilegia canadensis. Red or Eastern Columbine (Aquilegia canadensis)

Golden Columbine (Aquilegia chrysantha) Golden Columbine (Aquilegia chrysantha)

Yellow Columbine (Aquilegia flavescens) Yellow Columbine (Aquilegia flavescens)

Western Columbine (Aquilegia formosa) wildflower in central Oregon forest. © Rex Wholster - stock.adobe.com Western Columbine (Aquilegia formosa)

Utah Columbine, Aquilegia scopulorum. Utah Columbine (Aquilegia scopulorum)

Smooth Rockcress (Arabis laevigata). Smooth Rockcress (Arabis laevigata)

Bristly Sarsaparilla (Aralia hispida). Bristly Sarsaparilla (Aralia hispida)

Lodgepole Pine Dwarf Mistletoe (Arceuthobium americanum). Lodgepole Pine Dwarf Mistletoe (Arceuthobium americanum)

Southwestern prickly poppy, Argemone pleiacantha. Southwestern prickly poppy (Argemone pleiacantha)

Jack-in-the Pulpit, Arisaema triphyllum. Jack-in-The-Pulpit (Arisaema triphyllum)

Jack-in-the Pulpit, Arisaema triphyllum. Heartleaf arnica (Arnica cordifolia)

Northern Wormwood Northern Wormwood (Artemisia campestris ssp. borealis)

White Sagebrush (Artemisia ludoviciana). White Sagebrush (Artemisia ludoviciana)

Sagebrush, Artemisia tridentata Sagebrush (Artemisia tridentata)

Goatsbeard (Aruncus dioicus). Goatsbeard (Aruncus dioicus)

Wild Ginger, Asarum canadense. Wild Ginger (Asarum canadense)

Wild Ginger, Asarum caudatum. Wild Ginger (Asarum caudatum)

Swamp Milkweed, Asclepias incarnata. Swamp Milkweed (Asclepias incarnata)

Mead’s Milkweed (Asclepias meadii) close up. Mead’s Milkweed (Asclepias meadii)

Oval-leaved Milkweed (Asclepias ovalifolia). Oval-leaved Milkweed (Asclepias ovalifolia)

White Swamp Milkweed (Asclepias perennis). White Swamp Milkweed (Asclepias perennis)

Purple Milkweed (Asclepias purpurascens). Purple Milkweed (Asclepias purpurascens)

Common Milkweed (Asclepias syriaca). Common Milkweed (Asclepias syriaca)

Butterfly Milkweed (Asclepias tuberosa) Butterfly Milkweed (Asclepias tuberosa)

wheel milkweed, Asclepias uncialis. Wheel Milkweed (Asclepias uncialis)

Redring Milkweed (Asclepias variegata). Redring Milkweed (Asclepias variegata)

Green Comet Milkweed (Asclepias viridiflora). Green Comet Milkweed (Asclepias viridiflora)

Green Antelopehorn (Asclepias viridis). Green Antelopehorn (Asclepias viridis)

American Hart's Tongue Fern, Asplenium scolopendrium var. americanum. American Hart's Tongue Fern (Asplenium scolopendrium var. americanum)

Alpine Milkvetch (Astragalus alpinus). Alpine Milkvetch (Astragalus alpinus)

Scarlet Milkvetch Scarlet Milkvetch (Astragalus coccineus)

Hyattville Milkvetch (Astragalus jejunus var. articulatus) in flower and fruit from the northwest slope of Cedar Mountain, Big Horn County, Wyoming, by Charmaine Delmatier, 22 June 1993. Hyattville Milkvetch (Astragalus jejunus var. articulatus)

Schultz’s Milk-vetch (Astragalus molybdenus var. schultziorum). Schultz’s Milk-vetch (Astragalus molybdenus var. schultziorum)

Ferron's Milkvetch (Astragalus musiniensis) Ferron's Milkvetch (Astragalus musiniensis)

Precocious Milkvetch (Astragalus proimanthes) Precocious Milkvetch (Astragalus proimanthes)

Lady Fern, Athyrium filix-femina. Lady Fern (Athyrium filix-femina)

Fourwing saltbush (Atriplex canescens). Fourwing saltbush (Atriplex canescens)

Fern-leaved False Foxglove (Aureolaria pedicularia var. intercedens) Fern-leaved False Foxglove (Aureolaria pedicularia var. intercedens)

Pacific Mosquitofern (Azolla filiculoides). Pacific Mosquitofern (Azolla filiculoides)