Photo: Teresa Munson
Photo: Teresa Munson
Wildflowers: Chasing Blooms Across the Silver State
A wet winter in the Great Basin is pretty much always a good thing. Most Nevadans will gladly sit through their third April snowstorm if that means babbling brooks and green hillsides into July. But it’s not only grass, sage, and alfalfa that reap the rewards of strong runoff: Snowcapped peaks in spring mean a bumper crop of beautiful wildflowers.
While a desert state might not be the first place you’d think to check when looking for wildflowers, don’t forget that Nevada is the most mountainous state in the Lower 48.
Thanks to its wide elevation range (from sea level to almost 14,000’), the state has diverse climates that support an array of flowers, some of which bloom even in drought years.
During the warm months, when moisture is greatest and the days are long, dormant seeds and plants spring to life, and wildflowers burst across the landscape. But there is no single season for spotting these blooms. Mountain wildflowers come in and out depending on elevation, latitude, and snowpack. Peak flowering times also depend on the species: Visit the same hillside over a few weeks and you’ll find mule’s ear give way to Indian paintbrush and then lupine.
Generally, one of the greatest differences between wildflowers in Nevada is latitude. Southern Nevada sees spring much earlier, meaning it’s possible to walk through wildflowers as early as March. In northern Nevada, expect the best blooms around June or July.
With enough planning, a motivated wildflower enthusiast could potentially chase the blooms across half the year. Assuming not everyone has time for that, here is a highlight of some of our favorite wildflower watch areas.
Responsibly
Admire the flowers and take all the pictures you’d like, but please don’t gather or trample plants. You’ll preserve the view for the next visitor and help promote pollination—especially for rare, endemic species that grow in isolated areas. Also, in some state parks (and at Great Basin National Park), picking flowers is prohibited.
Western Nevada
Flower Facts: Desert Peach
This attractive member of the rose family grows along the Sierra Nevada and is especially prominent in the mountain foothills near Carson City and Reno. This popular pollinator blooms between March and May, and its miniature-size fruit is a favorite snack for wildlife.
Eastern Nevada
Flower Facts: Lupine
With more than 40 species across the state, you’ll likely encounter a few hills blanketed in these flowers—particularly in central Nevada’s Toquima and Toiyabe ranges. Their carnivorous name comes from an old belief that lupines depleted the ground of nutrients. In fact, lupines grow in poor-quality soil because, unlike many plants, they source their nitrogen from the atmosphere—thus ultimately enriching the surrounding soil.
Southern Nevada
- Spring Mountains National Recreation Area
- Lake Mead National Recreation Area
- Valley of Fire State Park
- Christmas Tree Pass
- Beatty
Flower Facts: Indian Paintbrush
This famous flower can be found from the desert floor to alpine meadows. Its feathery plumage consists of colored foliage, not petals. Look closely, and you’ll see tiny flowers hidden among the leaves. This plant “borrows” moisture from the roots of neighboring plants—including sagebrush—and ranges in colors from red to yellow. You’ll spot this flower across the state with an endemic species (the Clokey wavyleaf paintbrush) inhabiting the Spring Mountains.
Travel Nevada Pro Tip
Located just minutes from The Strip, Springs Preserve is home to gardens and trails packed with native flora and fauna. Don’t miss a stop at their famous butterfly sanctuary—open during the spring and fall.
