Plants and Wildflowers

IMG_0654Wildflowers are abundant along the parkway.  In certain areas, mowing is delayed in the spring to permit wildflowers to bloom and seed.  The best way to view wildflowers is to take a hike on one of the trails.  Because the parkway runs through 444 miles of different climates and terrain, a wide variety of wildflowers can be found in the park.
Three areas offer particularly good opportunities to view wildflowers during certain seasons:

    1. ROCK SPRING.  Mile post 330.2  Jewelweed blooms here in the spring and fall.  In September, hummingbirds are attracted to the blooms.
    2. CHICKASAW VILLAGE.  Mile post 260.8  This site is located along the Natchez Trace National Scenic Trail, and the prairie is being restored. Prairie flowers bloom during spring and summer.
    3. CYPRESS SWAMP.  Mile post 122.0  Wetland wildflowers grow here in the moist soil. The best variety is in spring and early summer. The swamp is also home to herons and alligators.

Natchez-Trace-Wildflower1

PLANTS ALONG THE PARKWAY

 Bloom-time and location
(NJ=Natchez to Jackson, JT=Jackson to Tupelo, TT=Tupelo to Tennessee State Line, TN=All Tennessee)
                                             NJ      JT     TT      TN
WHITE-GREEEN FLOWERS
Spring Beauty            February-May        X       X       X       X
Mayapple                 March-May           X       X       X       X
Spring Cress             March-May           X       X       X       X
False Solomon’s Seal     March-June                  X       X       X
Daisy Fleabane           March-October       X       X       X       X
Water Hemlock            March-October       X       X       X       X
White Baneberry          April-May                   X       X       X
Smooth Solomon’s Seal    April-June          X       X       X       X
Japanese honeysuckle     April-September     X       X       X       X
Ox-Eye Daisy             April-October       X       X       X       X
Wild Potato Vine         May-July            X       X       X       X
Queen Anne’s Lace        May-December        X       X       X       X
Spider Lily              June-September      X       X       X
White Heath Aster        September-November  X       X       X       X

RED-PINK AND ORANGE FLOWERS
Little Sweet Betsy       March-May           X       X       X       X
Crimson Clover           March-August        X       X       X       X
Evening Promise          March-September     X       X       X       X
Cross Vine               April-June          X       X       X       X
Fire Pink                April-July                          X       X
Woodland Pinkroot        May-June            X       X       X       X
Butterfly Milkweed       May-August          X       X       X       X
Meadow Beauty            May-October         X       X       X       X
Jewelweed                June-September      X       X       X       X
Trumpet Creeper          June-October        X       X       X       X
Rose Pink                July-August         X       X       X       X
Cardinal Flower          July-October        X       X       X       X

BLUE AND PURPLE FLOWERS
Common Blue Velvet       February-June       X       X       X       X
Tiny Bluets              March-May           X       X       X       X
Common Periwinkle        March-June                          X
Ground Ivy               March-June                  X       X       X
Lyreleaf Sage            March-June          X       X       X       X
Blue-Eyed Grass          March-July          X       X       X       X
Spiderwort               March-July          X       X       X       X
Dwarf Crested Iris       April-May                   X       X       X
Wild Blue Phlox          April-June                  X       X       X
Purple Deadnettle        April-October       X       X       X       X
Self-Heal                April-December      X       X       X       X
Wild Petunia             May-July                    X       X       X
Skullcap                 May-August          X       X       X       X
Crown Vetch              May-September                               X
Winter Vetch             May-September       X       X       X       X
Common Dayflower         May-October         X       X       X       X
Chicory                  May-December        X       X       X       X
Butterfly Pea            June-September      X       X       X       X
Monkey Flower            June-September      X       X       X       X
Wild Bergamot            June-September      X       X       X       X
Tall Morning Glory       June-October        X       X       X       X
Kudzu                    July-October        X       X       X       X
Scaly Blazing Star       July-October                X       X       X
Blue Wood Aster          July-October                X       X       X
Beggar Lice              July-October        X       X       X       X
Ironweed                 July-October        X       X       X       X

YELLOW FLOWERS
Carolina Jessamine       January-April       X       X
Early Buttercup          March-May           X       X       X       X
Yellow Violet            March-June                          X       X
Butterweed               March-July          X       X       X       X
Yellow Wood Sorrel       March-October       X       X       X       X
Golden Alexanders        April-May                   X       X       X
Tickseed Coreopsis       April-June          X       X       X       X
Dwarf Dandelion          April-August        X       X       X       X
Yellow Sweet Clover      April-November      X       X       X       X
Sneezeweed               May-August          X       X       X       X
St. Andrew’s Cross       May-September       X       X       X       X
Black-Eyed Susan         May-September       X       X       X       X
Prairie Coneflower       June-August                 X       X       X
Prairie Dock             July-September      X       X       X       X
Jerusalem Artichoke      July-October                        X       X
Beggar Ticks             August-November             X       X       X
Gray Goldenrod           September-November  X       X       X       X

The Parkway contains about 2,200 species of plants.  This page is under development.  Check back soon to learn more about ways to explore the abundant natural resources on the Parkway.

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