Initially this guide displays common flowers of all colors that are blooming right now in our area. Use the selectors to view rare species, to view flowers blooming any time, to restrict the output to a certain color, or to search by name.
The Jemez Mountain Herbarium located at PEEC has a specimen collection of over 1,000 plant species that are found in the Jemez Mountain region. This guide was developed as a subset of this collection to help in the identification of the most prevalent flowering plants in Los Alamos County. Most of the plants shown here are native to the area, though a few were introduced to the region.
Monocot and both simple and composite flowering dicots are covered in this guide. This information is included in each description and potentially makes it easier to identify the different plants.
- monocot – seed has 1 embryonic leaf; flower parts com in multiples of 3; leaves have parallel veins
- dicot – seed has 1 embryonic leaves; flower parts com in multiples of 4 or 5; leaves have scattered veins
- simple flower – single, symmetric flowers; usually 3 to 6 petals that emerge from the flower center
- composite flower – multiple, tiny flowers arranged on a single base, typically rays around a disc; each tiny flower has its own seed
Most of the plants represented here are classified as forb/herb which are plants without significant woody growth. However, some flowering shrubs and trees have been included. Many of the later can also be found in the PEEC Tree Guide. This guide does not include any noxious weeds from the area. These are covered in the PEEC Invasive Plant Guide.
You can get additional information on local blooms by joining PEEC Wild Plants. More detailed descriptions can be found in Plants of the Jemez Mountains Volumes 2 and 3, which are available in the PEEC gift shop.
Flower References
American Southwest Plants
Annotated Checklist and Database for Vascular Plants of the Jemez Mountains
Colorado Rocky Mountain Wildflowers
Flora of North America
Foxx, T., Martin, C., and Hoard, D., 2018 Plants of the Jemez Mountains Volume 2: Wildflowers: Showy Monocots and Common Dicots.
Foxx, T., Martin, C., and Hoard, D., 2019 Plants of the Jemez Mountains Volume 3: Composites.
eNature
Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center
National Garden Association
Native Plants Society of New Mexico
New Mexico Flora
Rocky Mountain Flora
Southwest Desert Flora
Wildflowers of the United States
US Department of Agriculture Natural Resources Conservation Services
US Forest Service
Subject Area Experts (all guides)
Steve Cary (butterflies)
Beth Cortright (insects)
Terry Foxx (invasive plants)
Leslie Hansen (mammals)
Richard Hansen (fish, mammals)
Dorothy Hoard (butterflies, trees)
Chick Keller (flowers, herbarium)
Shari Kelley (geology)
Kirt Kempter (geology)
Garth Tietjen (reptiles)
David Yeamans (birds)
Web Development and Content Management
Pat Bacha
Jennifer Macke
Graham Mark
Akkana Peck
Contact
Please contact us for local nature questions and sightings. We welcome comments, corrections, and additions to our guides.
For more information about local nature, please visit our Nature Blog or subscribe to PEEC This Week.
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Showing 15 of 179 flowers.
 Photo: Craig Martin  Photo: Craig Martin  Photo: Craig Martin |  Constance's Spring Parsley, Wafer ParsnipCYCO22 (Cymopterus constancei)Family: Apiaceae (Carrots) Size: up to 5 in (13 cm) Growth: forb/herb; perennial Blooms: Mar 15 - Apr 15 Flower: simple; white and pink; branched flower heads surrounded by papery bracts Leaf: dicot; gray-green; 3 to 5 pairs of lobed leaflets Fruit: made up of 5 tan to purplish wings that are clustered close together Status: native; uncommon Habitat: pinyon-juniper --- semi-desert, woodlands, shrublands Typical location: Overlook Park, White Rock Rim Trail Parsley-like leaves are tasty in spring salads. One can find all stages of development on the same plant. Info Photos Distribution |
 Photo: Chick Keller  Photo: Dan Beckman |  Running Fleabane, Running Daisy, Tracy's FleabaneERCO28 (Erigeron tracyi, Erigeron colomexicanus )Family: Asteraceae (Daisies) Size: 6 - 12 in (15 - 30 cm) Growth: forb/herb; biennial Blooms: Feb 01 - Dec 01 Flower: composite; white with yellow center, may have purple color on edges; a single flowerhead per stem made up of 100 ray florets and over 200 disc florets Leaf: dicot; basal leaves close together and wider toward the tip; stem leaves few and narrow; hairy Fruit: archenes topped with bristles Status: native; common Habitat: pinyon-juniper --- foothills, open areas, and woods Typical location: Red Dot Trail Spreads via runners during summer and fall. Similar in overall appearance to Spreading Fleabane but has runner similar to Whiplash Daisy. Info Photos Distribution |
 Photo: Chick Keller  Photo: Dan Beckman |  New Mexico GroundselPANEN (Packera neomexicana, Senecio neomexicanus)Family: Asteraceae (Daisies) Size: 12 - 24 in (30 - 61 cm) Growth: forb/herb, subshrub; perennial Blooms: Mar 09 - Jul 10 Flower: composite; yellow; 5 to 14 ray florets around 40 or more disc florets; clusters of between 3 and 20 flowerheads Leaf: dicot; wider at the tip than base; may have teeth and hairs; mostly located around the base Fruit: white puffs of hairs attached to seeds similar to dandelions Status: native; common Habitat: ponderosa --- foothills, montane, subalpine, woodlands, openings Typical location: Perimeter Trail to Water Canyon Plants are often crowded together with an unusual abundance of flowers for each plant. Plants can often be fairly variable. Info Photos Distribution |
 Photo: Jerry Oldenettel  Photo: Chick Keller  Photo: Craig Martin |  Stemless Townsend Daisy, Easter Daisy, Silky Townsend DaisyTOEX2 (Townsendia exscapa)Family: Asteraceae (Daisies) Size: 1 - 7 in (3 - 18 cm) Growth: forb/herb; perennial Blooms: Mar 10 - May 19 Flower: composite; white to pinkish petals surrounding a yellow center Leaf: dicot; gray-green; spatulate in shape; usually hairy Fruit: achene with fine, slender bristles on top Status: native; uncommon Habitat: pinyon-juniper --- grasslands, sage; plains, valleys Typical location: Burnt Mesa Trail Plant grows from a woody taproot from which the leaves and flowers grow directly. Thus, the plant is stemless or nearly so. Info Photos Distribution |
 Photo: Jerry Oldenettel  Photo: Craig Martin  Photo: freejinn | Creeping Barberry, Creeping Oregon GrapeMARE11 (Mahonia repens)Family: Berberidaceae (Barberries) Size: 12 - 24 in (30 - 61 cm) Growth: shrub, subshrub; perennial Blooms: Mar 15 - May 30 Flower: simple; yellow; long clusters of up to 50 flowers; 6 petals Leaf: dicot; bluish green with some leaves in pinks and oranges Fruit: matte blue berries Status: native; common Habitat: ponderosa --- foothills, montane, subalpine, woodlands Typical location: Satch Cowan Trail A sprawling evergreen with small fragrant flowers. The berries attract birds. In the fall the leaves of this groundcover turn bronze. Info Photos Distribution |
 Photo: Rebecca Shankland  Photo: J.N. Stuart |  Crossflower, Blue Mustard, Purple MustardCHTE2 (Chorispora tenella)Family: Brassicaceae (Mustards) Size: 6 - 24 in (15 - 61 cm) Growth: forb/herb; annual Blooms: Mar 24 - Jun 19 Flower: simple; blue to purple; 4 petals; borne on racemes Leaf: dicot; grey-green; wavy-edged with teeth Fruit: long pods that curve upward; reddish brown seeds Status: naturalized plant; locally common Habitat: disturbed soil --- semi-deserts, foothills, fields, woodlands Typical location: White Rock This plant originated in Europe and Asia but was introduced in the US long ago. It is classified as a noxious weed in many areas due to its ability to take over open fields in the early spring. Has a strong musky odor. Info Photos Distribution |
 Photo: Craig Martin  Photo: Alex Abair |  Fendler's Pennycress, Alpine Pennycrest, Wild CandytuftNOMOF (Noccaea fendleri)Family: Brassicaceae (Mustards) Growth: forb/herb; perennial Blooms: Mar 15 - May 14 Flower: simple; white with a little pink; flowers grow in dense clusters Leaf: dicot; small, arrow-shaped leaves; evenly spaced and growing on the main stem of the plant Fruit: two fused carpels with two seeds in each half Status: native; uncommon Habitat: mixed conifer --- lower montane through alpine, woodlands, openings, meadows Typical location: Valle Canyon Grows in large patches with few other plants around. It starts to flower when still close to the ground but the continues to elongate as it grows. Info Photos Distribution |
 Photo: Chick Keller  Photo: Craig Martin | Arizona Valerian, ValerianVAAR3 (Valeriana arizonica)Family: Caprifoliaceae (Honeysuckles) Size: 2 - 6 in (5 - 15 cm) Growth: forb/herb; perennial Blooms: Mar 19 - Jun 01 Flower: simple; pinkish white; tubular; arranged in a spherical cluster; 5 lobes Leaf: dicot; sparsely spaced leaves; opposite arrangement Fruit: achene-like with 1 seed Status: native; locally common Habitat: mixed conifer, ponderosa --- moist coniferous forests Typical location: Valle Canyon Found at upper elevations on north facing slopes. The plant is characterized by unbranched, stout but relatively short stems tapering to long stalks. Info Photos Distribution |
 Photo: Chick Keller  Photo: Lorraine Briddon  Photo: Don Sutherland | Kinnikinnick, BearberryARUV (Arctostaphylos uva-ursi)Family: Ericaceae (Heaths) Size: 2 - 12 in (5 - 30 cm) Growth: shrub; perennial Blooms: Mar 10 - May 08 Flower: simple; paink and white; urn-shaped on bright-red stems Leaf: dicot; shiny and small; thick, leathery, and paddle-shaped Fruit: drupes; bright red and glossy Status: native; locally common Habitat: ponderosa --- montane, alpine, woodlands Typical location: Kinnikinnick Park Its species name of uva-ursi means "grape of the bear” and indeed bears eats the fruit. Often forms very dense, pure stands of groundcover. Info Photos Distribution |
 Photo: Craig Martin  Photo: Craig Martin  Photo: Craig Martin |  Redstem Stork's Bill, Redstem Filaree, Pinweed, CranesbillERCI6 (Erodium cicutarium)Family: Geraniacea (Geraniums) Size: 6 - 12 in (15 - 30 cm) Growth: forb/herb; annual, biennial Blooms: Jan 02 - Dec 30 Flower: simple; pink, often with dark spots; arranged in loose clusters with 10 filaments Leaf: dicot; deeply cleft; fern-like Fruit: long, narrow, pointed seed pods Status: naturalized plant; common Habitat: disturbed soil --- desert scrub, grasslands, oak woodlands, semi-desert grassland, lawns, gardens; more common at lower elevations It was introduced into California from the Mediterranean Basin in the eighteenth century. The entire plant is edible and resembles a parsley when picked young. It is considered to be a weed in some areas. Info Photos Distribution Weed Guide |
 Photo: Craig Martin  Photo: Barbara Calef | Tufted Evening Primrose, Fragarent Evening Primrose, Gumbo Evening PrimroseOECA10 (Oenothera caespitosa)Family: Onagraceae (Evening Primroses) Size: up to 8 in (20 cm) Growth: forb/herb, subshrub; perennial Blooms: Mar 27 - Jul 17 Flower: simple; white; 4 petals that are deeply notched at tip; flowers become pink as they age Leaf: dicot; long, thin, lobed leaves; irregularly lobed or toothed Fruit: rough seedpods; inconspicuous Status: native; uncommon Habitat: pinyon-juniper --- foothills, montane, woodlands, openings Typical location: Anniversary Trail Spreads by underground roots and often forms large colonies. Flowers open with the evening and wither to pink by the next afternoon. Dependent on hawkmoths for pollination. Info Photos Distribution |
 Photo: Craig Martin  Photo: Craig Martin  Photo: Christina M. Selby | Pygmyflower Rockjasmine, Rock Jasmine, RockJasmine, Northern Fairy CandelabraANSE4 (Androsace septentrionalis)Family: Primulaceae (Primroses) Size: 6 - 10 in (15 - 25 cm) Growth: forb/herb; annual, perennial Blooms: Mar 19 - Sep 01 Flower: simple; white with yellow center; enclosed by a green or reddish calyx; 5 petals Leaf: dicot; simple leaves formed in a rosette Fruit: small, smooth, round capsule containing about 20 seeds Status: native; common Habitat: mixed conifer, ponderosa --- foothills, montane, subalpine, meadows, open woods Tiny plant often obscured by others. It turns shades of red shortly after finishing blooming. Can be found up to 11,000 ft (3,400 m). Info Photos Distribution |
 Photo: Christina M. Selby  Photo: Chick Keller  Photo: Chick Keller |  Eastern Pasqueflower, American PasqueflowerPUPA5 (Pulsatilla patens, Anemone patens)Family: Ranunculaceae (Buttercups) Size: 3 - 18 in (8 - 46 cm) Growth: forb/herb; perennial Blooms: Mar 16 - Jun 19 Flower: simple; blue, purple and/or white; single cup-shaped flower on each stalk; 6 petals Leaf: dicot; deeply cut basal leaves; 3 unstalked leaves with linear segments surround each flower Fruit: feathery, silky fruiting head Status: native; common Habitat: ponderosa --- dry, open, and rocky low to high montane forests and meadows Typical location: Pajarito Trail, Perimeter Trail, Rendija Canyon Plants often occur in large colonies. They elongate as they mature. Although the plant was used by Native Americans as a medicine it is highly toxic. Info Photos Distribution |
 Photo: Rebecca Shankland  Photo: Jerry Oldenettel |  Dakota Mock Vervain, Dakota Verbena, Prairie VerbenaGLBI2 (Glandularia bipinnatifida)Family: Verbenaceae (Verbenas) Size: 9 - 12 in (23 - 30 cm) Growth: forb/herb; annual, perennial Blooms: Mar 10 - Jun 01 and Sep 15 - Oct 15 Flower: simple; pink to purple; grow in rounded clusters Leaf: dicot; finely dissected, into segments; opposite arrangement Fruit: 4 nutlets enclosed in a calyx Status: native; locally common Habitat: pinyon-juniper --- semi-desert, open areas Typical location: Red Dot Trail, White Rock Canyon There plants can often can be seen along the trail or in old lava flows. The leaves tend to lean outward from the center as the plant grows and the stems are reddish. Info Photos Distribution |
 Photo: annagypsy  Photo: Craig Martin |  Davis Mountain Mock Vervain, Desert Verbena, Wright's VerbenaGLWR (Glandularia wrightii)Family: Verbenaceae (Verbena) Size: 6 - 12 in (15 - 30 cm) Growth: forb/herb; annual, perennial Blooms: Mar 01 - Sep 30 Flower: simple; light to dark pink; narrow tube that opens abruptly into 5 notched lobes with 2 close together Leaf: dicot; deeply lobed leaves at opposite intervals Fruit: acorn-shaped seed Status: native; common Habitat: montane, mountain meadow --- semi-desert, foothills, woodlands Typical location: Red Dot Trail Plant has greenish-red stems that are covered in short hairs and square in cross-section. Stems are erect, though may lean at an angle when flowering. Flowers form round clusters. Info Photos Distribution |