Wildflowers 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:
- ROCK SPRING. Mile post 330.2 Jewelweed blooms here in the spring and fall. In September, hummingbirds are attracted to the blooms.
- 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.
- 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.
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.