Wildflower Week

Also known as Indian Paintbrush, the Castilleja is a very common wildflower you will see around Breckenridge. It comes in a few different varieties, but sits low to the ground with a bright red or pink flower that looks somewhat like a paintbrush dipped in paint!

A type of delphinium, the Larkspur has flowers with five blue or violet petals. Typically one petal points upward, giving the flower a starlike appearance. These flowers will be at lower mountain elevations from the foothills to montane regions.

Lupine will have stalks with small, nearly circular blue or purplish flowers. The large lupine plants that you see around town and resorts are cultivated, the lupine you will see while hiking will be smaller varieties.

The Scarlet Gilia has many names- Trumpet Flower, Scarlet Trumpet, Fairy Trumpet, and more. But all of its names are inspired by the trumpet-like shape of its lovely, red flowers. The Scarlet Gilia is a favorite of hummingbirds.

Mountain Harebell, a variety of campanula, has a long, dainty stem with a blue-ish, violet bell-shaped flower dangling off the end. You will find Mountain Harebell in subalpine regions and they grow all summer long!

There are many, many varieties of penstemon that grow wild in Colorado, but the one-sided is one of the most common. Their stalks grow about one to two feet tall and their blue or violet flowers appear on one side of the stalk.

Fleabane, also known as Alpine Daisy Plants, grow all summer long and are very common in Summit County. Look for their pinkish, purplish petals and bright yellow center- they’re hard to miss!

Yarrow can be found in most lower elevations and prefer to grow in open meadows. They have long stalks with bunches of small, dainty flowers. The flowers are most commonly white, but can also be yellow or pink. Look for the fuzzy leaves along the stalks!

Wild Rose grow in large bushes that can grow several feet wide. The flowers are fairly small, only about one to two inches across, and are pale pink. Admire these beauties, but be careful- their stems are thorny!

Wild Iris loves to grow in wet, marshy areas! Its large purple head, with floppy leaves and petals are nearly identical to the cultivated versions you will find in gardens. This flower tends to bloom in early to mid-summer.

The Wild Strawberry plant is common in our area and a favorite of the little critters that call this place home! The flower has small white petals and a yellow center. The plant grows long, trailing shoots and grows close to the ground.

Another variety of penstemon that can be found in Breckenridge, the Firecracker Penstemon has long stalks with red tubular flowers displayed on one side. Their flowers are super vibrant and very common all around Summit County- you’re sure to spot them!

These little wildflowers grow at higher elevations in the subalpine and alpine regions. Alpine Phlox grows in small, ground cover plants and has delicate white flowers- usually with five petals.