Natural History Wanderings

Oregon Wildflowers has a wildflower report for Silver Star Mountain:

It’s a fantastic time to visit Silver Star Mountain (although you might want to wait until the current heat wave abates).

First and foremost, this is a banner year for Bear grass (Xerophyllum tenax), which is EVERYWHERE! In addition to that, the customary kaleidoscope display is in full force. Varieties currently blooming along the Ed’s Trail loop include: Inside-Out Flower (Vancouveria hexandra), Candyflower (Claytonia sibirica), Western bistort (Polygonum bistortoides), Western columbine (Aquilegia formosa), Indian paintbrush (Castilleja miniata), Mountain golden-pea (Thermopsis montana), Cascade aster (Aster ledophyllus), Long-beaked hawkweed (Hieracium longiberbe), Oregon sunshine (Eriophyllum lanatum), Subalpine mariposa lily (Calochortus subalpinus), Woodland penstemon (Nothochelone nemorosa), Cardwell’s penstemon (Penstemon cardwellii), Cliff penstemon (Penstemon rupicola), Nuttall’s larkspur (Delphinium nuttallii), Rosy spiraea (Spiraea splendens), Sitka valerian (Valeriana sitchensis), Oregon iris (Iris tenax), Tiger lily (Lilium columbianum), Small-flowered paintbrush (Castilleja parviflora), Pacific Bleeding Heart (Dicentra formosa), Thimbleberry (Rubus parviflorus), Mountain Wallflower (Erysimum arenicola), Spreading phlox (Phlox diffusa), Columbia Lewisia (Lewisia columbiana), Western serviceberry (Amelanchier alnifolia), Bunchberry (Cornus unalaschkensis), Western Sweetvetch (Hedysarum occidentale), Queen’s cup (Clintonia uniflora), Rusty Saxifrage (Saxifraga ferruginea), and Explorer’s Gentian (Gentiana calycosa).

Blooming in forested areas at higher elevations: Evergreen Violet (Viola sempervirens) and lots of Avalanche lily (Erythronium montanum).

See older Oregon Wildflowers reports at Reports