Wildflower Watch

We love wildflower season! It’s a magical time on local trails.

Are you wondering where to go and how to identify the different wildflowers? We asked local flora enthusiast, Whitney Tilt, to provide a list of the wildflowers most commonly found in the area at this time of year. Whitney is the Bozeman-based author of the Flora of the Yellowstone field guide, now in its second edition.

Near Town and Foothills (open, parkland)

• Blanketflower (Gaillardia)

• Drummonds Milkvetch

• Green Gentian

• One-flower Sunflower

• Paintbrush (several colors)

• Pale Paintbrush

• Pearly Everlasting

• Sulfur Buckwheat

• Western Coneflower

• Yarrow

Montane (forested)

• Baneberry

• Bedstraw

• Coralroot (spotted, western, striped)

• Fairybells

• Harebell

• Heartleaf Arnica

• Richardson’s Geranium

• Roundleaf Alumroot

• Twinberry

• Wood’s Pussytoes

Want to learn more?

The second edition of the stunning Flora of the Yellowstone field guide by Bozeman author, Whitney Tilt, includes more than 400 species of wildflowers, shrubs, trees, and other flora. Designed for easy use, this guide presents an overview of each species, complete with photos and illustrations, botanical descriptions, preferred habitats, and interesting tidbits on the plant’s ecology and cultural use.

The book was a labor of love for Tilt, a longtime GVLT supporter and former board member. He was aided in this effort by an enormous cadre of talented professionals including photographers, writers, editors, biologists, and artists, including Clyde Aspevig, whose painting is featured on the cover. All the contributors to this project volunteered their time to bring this book to fruition and 100% of the proceeds from the book will go directly to GVLT for our work on trails and land conservation.

To purchase your copies, stop by GVLT’s office at 212 S. Wallace, Suite 101, Monday through Friday, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., or email info@gvlt.org.