Unusual Natives Rocky Mountains & Pacific Northwest

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Brooklyn Botanic Garden
1000 Washington Avenue
Brooklyn, NY 11225

Phone: 718-623-7200

Rocky Mountains & Pacific Northwest

Erythronium grandiflorum (Trout lily)
"Erythronium species are some of the best wildflowers for shade."
—Badassare Mineo, Siskiyou Rare Plant Nursery

The 2-inch, glowing, yellow blooms of this lily have distinctive, 3-lobed stigmas and white, yellow, or red-black anthers. Broad twin leaves emerge with the flowers shortly after the snow melts, growing 5 to 13 inches high and 4 inches wide. Dormant from July to early March. Easy to grow in well-drained, fertile soil.
Zone 3-8.

Lewisia rediviva (Bitterroot)
"A stunning ephemeral of the high plains, with enormous bright-pink flowers that spring from the sand in some of the most barren-looking places."
— Rebecca Day-Skowron, Rocky Mountain Rare Plants
This 1 by 3-inch perennial is an excellent showy plant at higher elevations. Narrow, small, and succulent quill-like, red-green leaves form in early spring. Flowers bloom in June. Goes dormant in late summer, so be sure to mark its location with a label. Easily grown from seed. Not tolerant of alkaline soil, and needs good drainage.
Zone 4-7.


Geranium viscosissinum (Sticky geranium/Western cranesbill)
"Sticky geranium produces very bright pink flowers in midsummer. Its foliage has a nice orange-red fall color".
—Kathy Hutton, Plants of the Wild

The foliage of this easy-to-grow, bushy plant stretches 1 to 3 feet tall and is covered in sticky hairs. Bright pink to purple flowers bloom from July through August, often with a second flush—and are edible. Water moderately in a rich, well-drained, slightly acidic soil. Partial shade to full sun. Drought tolerant.
Zone 4-10.

Other wonderful wildflowers for the Pacific Northwest/Rocky Mountain regions: Aquilegia formosa (western red columbine), Balsamorhiza sagittata (arrowleaf balsamroot), Calochortus nuttallii (fairy lantern), Iris douglasiana (iris pacific hybrid), Lomatium dissectum, and Penstemon whippleanus (Whipple's penstemon)

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