Learn about the threats facing wildflowers and how you can do your part to protect them. Mountain Mints St. Johns Wort Turtlehead Wild Aster Yellow-fringed Orchid September Aster Blue Gentians Bonset Fleabane Gerardia Golden Aster Ironweed Lobelias Sunflowers Yarrow Flowers in the Great Smoky Mountains There are 1,600 species of flowering plants in the Great Smoky Mountains. Happy planting! The tallest Purple Rhododendron in the nation grows in the Smoky Mountains at a height of 25 feet! October, when the foliage is at its peak, is usually the second highest visitation month of the year. You will have to make sure that you provide some frost protection, and when you do that, you will notice that the bloom period will be slightly extended. But first, its important to focus on the different kinds of rhododendrons. The One Subscription to Fuel All Your Adventures. These smaller flowers bloom before the trees' leave grow to take advantage of abundant sunlight on the forest floor. Good places to see it include Andrews Bald, Alum Cave Trail, the Blue Ridge Parkway, and above the Chimney Tops Trailhead. Azaleas flower on many stems like an umbrella. Wildflowers of the Blue Ridge Parkway Known for its biological diversity, the region is home to an estimated 12,000 species of flowers. Used by Google DoubleClick and stores information about how the user uses the website and any other advertisement before visiting the website. Spring is the best time to see the flowers. When you click and buy we may earn an affiliate commission at no cost to you. Spring in the park is one of the best times of year to visit. The hillsides are alight in reds, yellows and oranges and it feels like youve stumbled into a fairytale at every turn. Bead Lily, Speckled Wood Lily Blooms: May-June Clintonia umbellulata Common in rich, moist deciduous woods. Beard-Tongue If you do visit during the summer, stick to higher elevations where highs range in the 60s and 70s. 107 Park Headquarters Road The spectacular, colorful blooms provided by the plant can easily create gorgeous hues in any garden, and they are a fantastic choice for people who are interested in making their garden a bit more beautiful. The mostly highly reported spot for beautiful Mountain Laurel blooms is Spence Field. Different rhododendron species bloom at different times of the year, normally from late March to late June. Nearby, in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, the rhododendrons at the lower elevations flower in April to early May, but the higher elevations dont show their color until June. 0. Parking tags will NOT be required for motorists who pass through the area or who park for less than 15 minutes, or while parked at their designated campsite. We did this hike today (over 14 miles up Bullhead trail to Mt LeConte and down Rainbow Falls trail). The Porters Creek Trail is a moderate 7 mile out and back trail that is a popular destination in the spring because of its stunning wildflower displays! It's FULL BLOOM everywhere, especially on the Rainbow Falls trail to LeConte. In fact, the park is sometimes referred to as the Wildflower National Park. From the earliest hepaticas and spring-beauties in the late winter to the last asters in the late fall, blooming flowers can be found year-round in the park. The famous displays on Gregory Bald bloom in mid to late June and on Andrews Bald in late June. Asheville Wildflower Bloom Schedule A few shade trees are compatible with azaleas and rhododendrons, most notably the red oak ( Quercus rubra ). Flame azaleas bloom at the low and mid-elevations in April and May. Before you go: Now is the perfect time to start tracking your gardening progress, and I created a garden journal to do exactly that. Return to Gregory Bald - Rhododendron Please enter your username or email address. While wildflowers are visible roadside along Highway 441, and many of the other sideroads, the best place to see the numerous varieties of wildflowers and spring blooms are the on the hundreds of miles of hiking trails in the park. Azaleas bloom in pink, red, orange, yellow, white, purple, and lavender. Wildflower . They also have a variety of different cultivar names as well. What makes Roan Mountain unique is its famous Catawba Rhododendron fields. If in doubt, call the Park Visitor Center for current conditions. As has been said, each year is different so YMMV, as they will bloom at different times in different elevations. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience. The rhododendrons had an excellent bud set during the summer of 1996, and R. maximum was in peak bloom when we made our excursion to Gregory on July 10th. What is blooming now in Smoky Mountains? Mountains Create. This blooming calendar gives the approximate emergence of the most popular species. The purpose of the cookie is to determine if the user's browser supports cookies. Flame azaleas bloom at the low and mid-elevations in April and May. The cookie is used to store information of how visitors use a website and helps in creating an analytics report of how the website is doing. Roundtrip the hike is about 3.5 miles. Gatlinburg The cookies store information anonymously and assign a randomly generated number to identify unique visitors. "Last year, we had over 14 million people. Rhododendron blooms are bell-shaped. Are rhododendron native to Tennessee? There are two main types of rhododendron that grow in our Smoky Mountains. Mitchell, Mt. Crowds are usually minimal, especially in early spring, making it a good time to check out some of the more popular parts of the park. Deposit Photos. This is used to present users with ads that are relevant to them according to the user profile. . Traveling on weekdays helps to avoid the heavy traffic during the spring flower season on the parkway. "Take only pictures. Come prepared, with hiking boots with good tread and a rain jacket. When is the peak blooming of rhododendron in the Smokey's? During each month of the year, some forb, tree or vine is blooming in the Smokies. The equally spectacular flame azaleas, which are also considered rhododendrons by plant taxonomists, bloom orange on this stretch of the parkway in early May, James said. At a Glance General Information The predominant species are the Catawba and Rosebay. Give them what they need, and theyll give you what you need (without having to chase them) every spring. The gardens are simply beautiful. TN When they bloom, beautiful pink and white blankets of color awash as far as the eye can see. The landscape is beautiful, with flowers blooming, waterfalls gushing and the hillsides starting to turn green. In other words, the flowers rarely appear at the same time every year. As you drive across the mountains on Newfound Gap Road you will notice that the brilliant swatches of white and pink seem to be almost endless. more information on current conditions mountain laurel, rhododendron and flame azaleas. High Country Rhododendron Viewing Some might continue blooming all the way into the first weeks of summer as well. However, the peak wildflower season is mid-to-late April when the spring ephemerals make their appearance. When blooming they produce beautiful white flowers. Length 6.9 miElevation gain 1,194 ftRoute type Loop. See Roan Mountain State Park. Discover the Blooming Wildflower Beauty of the Great Smoky Mountains Cup-shaped flowers, up to two inches across, are borne in clusters in shades of pale pink and white. Its white and pink flowers bloom from early May through June on trails and roadways throughout the park. This topic has been closed to new posts due to inactivity. Black bear nursing her cubs in Great Smoky Mountain National Park, Sunrise view from Sparks Lane in Springtime, Rhododendrons in bloom on the Alum Cave Trail in Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Synchronous fireflies in Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Henry Whitehead Place in autumn, Cades Cove at Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Laurel Falls in the winter in Great Smoky Mountains National Park, breathtaking views from the top of Clingmans Dome, Find Authentic Charm Near Great Smoky Mountains National Park in Sevierville. Smoky Mountains Wildflowers: Rhododendron - William Britten A group of flowers known as spring ephemerals begins the yearly show. There are primarily two types to look for. Not every shrub will flower each year, but because there are so many in the park there will always be plenty of flowering Rosebays to enjoy. The cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional". It's a great ground cover, as it self-seeds prolifically, and it is also a perennial plant, returning year after year. Rhododendron | Definition, Description, Major Species, & Facts The blooming rhododendrons are gorgeous to see, but you might also want to take a short hike to the observation deck at Roan High Bluff. Rhododendron maximum, also known as Big Laurel, forms dense thickets, some as high as 20 feet, that are critical to the health of Southern Appalachian forests and the wildlife that dwell there. , The rosebay's are one of the parks most common woody plants. Reply. Learn more. Things to Do in the Smoky Mountains this Spring | Visit NC Smokies Mid-June to July is the bloom time for the wild Smoky Mountains Rhododendrons. . From the earliest hepaticas and spring-beauties in the late winter to the last asters in the late fall, blooming flowers can be found year-round in the park. Rhododendron blooming in the Smokys & Gatlinburg yet? - Great Smoky They bloom from April through June and sometimes into July. They are one of the most popular blooms to see in the park. When hiking in the park, have a way to communicate. Parking tags may be purchased online, or on-site. . Top 4 Wildflower Hikes in the Smoky Mountains to Experience This Spring Also at the top of the mountain, in the spring, visitors are welcomed by a covering of pink from the blooming of the catawaba rhododendron that inhabit the rhododendron garden. Mountain Laurel is an evergreen shrub that is native to the eastern United States. Too early, and youll find no flowers. Once the flower blooms, you should know that certain varieties can last up to two months, while there are some that can go all the way up to seven months. The mountain laurel start blooming in May. The Catawba rhododendron is the source of the pinkish swatches of color that cover the high elevations. The second most popular location to view the Flame Azaleas is to hike the Andrews Bald in late June. The Purple, or Catawba, variety is more often seen at high elevations along hillside trails. Blooming time is April and May in the pine and oak forests at low to mid-elevations, but not until June or early July on the mountain tops. If you are a resident of another country or region, please select the appropriate version of Tripadvisor for your country or region in the drop-down menu. The White, or Rosebay, variety is most often seen along the creeks at all elevations. Bloom peaks along the Parkway in Virginia are usually earlier than in North Carolina due to lower elevation. Rhododendron blooms range in color from white to yellow, pink, orange, red and purple. Visiting the Smoky Mountains in March, April and May - Wildland Trekking There are primarily two types to look for. While the plants are hardy, do your research to make sure you live in a region favorable to these plants. The rhododendron plant has more than a thousand species. You can take an easy, scenic drive up to the balds through the state park or hike through Carvers Gap on the Appalachian trail in the same area to get the best views. If time allows during your Smoky Mountains vacation, please stop in at the William Britten Gallery on Glades Rd in Gatlinburg where my complete display of photos may offer you a special Smokies memory to take home! Flame azaleas bloom at the low and mid-elevations in April and May. Our mission at Wildlife Informer is to share free information and pictures of wildlife with our readers. Vol. Summer Wildflowers in the Smoky Mountains - My Pigeon Forge The first flowers typically appear in late March in northern Georgia, from Atlanta to the Southern Appalachian Mountains. They are both 5 lobed. The North Carolina Rhododendron Festival is celebrated in the small downtown and creekside park (pic above) in Bakersville. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. Your email address will not be published. (And 3 Ways to Improve the Blooms), 4 Possible Reasons Your Venus Flytrap Is Turning Black. 172 Smoky Mountain Rhododendron Stock Photos, Images & Pictures. The gardens usually peak the third week of June. Pisgah. When & Where To Find Wildflowers in the Smoky Mountains Chasing the Rhododendron Blooms | Simply Appalachian It can truly be a sight to behold. July is historically the parks most crowded month, with June not too far behind. I know that where I live, most houses on the street will have at least one bush in their yard. Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. Visit US Wildflowers Database of Wildflowers for Great Smoky Mountains National Park. When Do Trees Start To Bud In The Smoky Mountains? Ephemerals are so named because they appear above ground only in late winter and early spring, then flower, fruit, and die back within a short two month period. Another member of the Rhododendron family that blooms brilliantly in the park is the Flame Azalea. Rosebay rhododendron is in bloom at the lower elevations in June and at mid-elevations during July. What month do rhododendrons flower? Best places to see wildflowers in the Great Smoky Mountains - WBIR