Blue Ridge Mountain Flowers

Flowering shrubs in the spring and leaves on the trees changing colors in the fall make the Blue Ridge Mountains a theater of natural beauty throughout the year.

Because of the changes of elevation in the mountains, peak colors and blooming depend on the region you're in.

The peak periods of Virginia's Blue Ridge Mountains tend to occur earlier in the year than those in the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina.

The Flame Azalea is at its brightest in Virginia's Blue Ridge in mid-May while Mountain Laurel typically blooms during the first two weeks of June. Thickets of Catawba Rhododendron can also be found in the region during the first part of June.

There are also various species of wildflowers that bloom in the Blue Ridge Mountains at different times in the spring and fall.

Unlike other mountain ranges in America, the Blue Ridge Mountains offer an abundance of trees.

On Mill Mountain alone, you can expect to find varieties of oak, pine, maple, dogwood, redwood, and other assorted plants.

The colors on the trees during the fall make Virginia's Blue Ridge one of the most beautiful destinations in the world for a fall getaway.

Dogwood, sourwood, and black gum trees that produce an intense red color. Tulip trees and birches provide a beautiful yellow color, sassafras produce a vivid orange, and red maples help complete the unique autumn symphony.

Learn more about fall color in Virginia's Blue Ridge.

In the spring, the Blue Ridge Mountains are dotted with flowering shrubs and wildflowers, including rhododendrons and dogwoods, that help make the Blue Ridge Parkway one of the most beautiful drives in the world.

Daisies and aster flowers make some of the striking color of the mountains during the summer.

The Evergreen trees that provide the beautiful green hues of the mountains come from the Virginia pine, white pine, hemlock, spruce, and fir trees in the Blue Ridge Mountains.

Because of the region's location and climate, Virginia's Blue Ridge Mountains offer iconic views and colors during all four seasons of the year.

Plants to Look For

Black-Eyed Susan
Type: Daisy
Features: Dark center with yellow florets
Blooms: June - August

Mountain Laurel
Type: Blueberry
Features: Clusters of flowers that range in color from light pink to white
Blooms: May - June

Queen Anne's Lace - "Wild Carrot"
Type: Apiaceae
Features: Fine hair on stems and a dark red flower in its center; root that smells like carrots
Blooms: June - August