Umstead Wildflowers

William B. Umstead State Park is home to large number of wildflower species.  Spring time is a great time for viewing wildflowers, a sure sign that winter is finally over.  Before the leaves come back to the trees, spring ephemerals bloom along the forest floor while sunlight can still penetrate the forest canopy.  A good place to see these flowers is along the creeks running through the park as well as powerline clearings where the canopy is clear.

White Flowers:

Spring Beauty (Claytonia virginica) are one of the first flowers to pop up in early spring.

Another early spring wildflower is the star chickweed (Stellaria pubera).  With small, white, star-shaped flowers, it's clear how these flowers got their name.

Heartleaf foamflowers (Tiarella cordifolia) have tall inflorescences with many small flowers, giving them a "foamy" appearance.

Partridgeberry (Mitchella repens) is a non-climbing vine that produces small white flowers.

Atamasco lilies (Zephyranthes atamasca), also called rain lilies, are one of the most beautiful wildflowers found in the park.  They're not common, but can sometimes be found in big patches.

Chinese bushclover (Lespedeza cuneata) is an invasive species with small white and purple flowers

False boneset (Brickellia eupatorioides)

Red and Pink Flowers:

Fire pink (Silene virginica) have brilliant red flowers.

Slender bushclover (Lespedeza virginica) is a bush that produces pink flowers.

Yellow Flowers:

Green-and-gold (Chrysogonum virginianum) is another common species of wildflower that blooms in early spring.  Their bright yellow-gold flowers are easy to spot long the trail.

Mouse-ear tickseed (Coreopsis auriculata) can be found along the trails and clearings, such as powerline right-of-ways.  Their pretty yellow-orange flowers have eight petals.

Bearded beggarticks (Bidens aristosa) is another yellow summer flower that blooms in open area.

Green Flowers:

Jack in the pulpit (Arisaema triphyllum) produce an unusual greenish flower.  The spathe or pulpit wraps around the spadix or Jack.

Blue and Violet Flowers:

Azure bluets (Houstonia caerulea) have small flowers but can grow in big patches.

Dwarf crested irises (Iris cristata) are not as common as some of the other wildflowers, but patches can be found here and there throughout the park.

Lyre leaf sage (Salvia lyrata) is an edible plant in the mint family.

Purple passion flower (Passiflora incarnata) is one of the most spectacular wildflowers found in the park.

Spurred butterfly pea (Centrosema virginianum) is a species of pea that grows on a narrow twining vine with a pretty violet flower.

Slender false foxglove (Agalinis tenuifolia ) is a partially parasitic plant that flowers in late summer and early fall.

Blog Entries:

09-May-2020: Umstead Reopening

15-Apr-2018: Wake County Wildflowers

01-Apr-2017: April Flowers in Umstead

External Links:

NC State Parks website: https://www.ncparks.gov/state-parks/william-b-umstead-state-park