Overview
Pennsylvania's forests, ridges, and river bottoms produce a long wildflower season, from spring ephemerals through the state flower's early-summer bloom to fall asters. The Alleghenies and river valleys are especially rich.
This guide covers common and iconic Pennsylvania wildflowers — how to recognize them and when they bloom. Photograph the flower and leaves and use the app to confirm any bloom you find.
Key Species to Know
Mountain Laurel
Kalmia latifolia
Pennsylvania's state flower — an evergreen shrub that covers itself in clusters of pink-and-white, cup-shaped blooms in early summer, carpeting mountain slopes.
Wild Geranium
Geranium maculatum
Loose clusters of pink-lavender, five-petaled flowers over deeply cut leaves, brightening open woods and edges in late spring.
Bloodroot
Sanguinaria canadensis
A pure-white, many-petaled spring flower that opens briefly above a single lobed leaf. Named for the red-orange sap in its root.
Virginia Bluebells
Mertensia virginica
Nodding clusters of sky-blue, trumpet-shaped flowers (pink in bud) over smooth gray-green leaves, forming blue drifts on damp spring floodplains.
Butterfly Weed
Asclepias tuberosa
A milkweed topped with flat clusters of brilliant orange flowers, swarming with butterflies in summer. Its sap is not milky like other milkweeds.
Black-eyed Susan
Rudbeckia hirta
A familiar daisy with golden-yellow rays around a dark brown dome, common in meadows and along roads. Bristly stems and leaves.
Seasonal Guide
- April–May: spring ephemerals like bluebells and bloodroot carpet the river bottoms.
- May–June: mountain laurel blooms across the wooded ridges.
- Summer–fall: meadow flowers and asters carry color into October.
Safety Reminder
Several of these wildflowers, including mountain laurel, are toxic, and many woodland species are slow-growing — enjoy and photograph them in place rather than picking. This guide is for identification and enjoyment, not foraging.
Identify it instantly
Found something and not sure what it is? Point your camera with Spotter and get a species identification in seconds — with detailed reference info and species notes.