The early spring is a time of awakening in New England as temperatures rise and snow begins to melt. It’s also a time when many adventures desire to get out and get moving. There’s plenty to see from spring until the first frost, and with the aid of a wildflower calendar, you’ll know what you’re looking at.
Taking a wildflower hike is also a great activity during times of social distancing. Simply leave six feet of space between yourself and your nearest companion. Call out to fellow hikers if you need to pass. In this way, a wildflower hike can allow you to socialize, de-stress amid the beauty of nature, and still keep yourself and others safe.
This list is not intended to be exhaustive; it lists some of the most common wildflowers. If you’d really like to dig into wildflower studies, or if you live outside of New England, I’d recommend one of these field guides.
New England Wildflower Calendar
The following flowers can be expected in the New England states each month from April through October.
April
Bloodroot (Sanguinaria canadensis)
Deeply lobed dark green leaves, with flowers consisting of eight narrow white petals with yellow centers. This poppy species lives in woodland areas.
Coltsfoot (Tussilago farfara)
Round, “fuzzy” golden blooms resembling dandelions or marigolds. Grows in moist soil, often alongside moving water.
Common Blue Violet (Viola papilionacea)
Light purple flowers of standard violet shape. Grows in well-watered fields and woodlands.
Dutchman’s Breeches (Dicentra cucullaria)
White V-shaped blossoms with yellow bottoms, so named because they resemble pants hanging upside-down from a clothesline. Similar to the garden bleeding heart. Grows in woodland areas.
Red Trillium (Trillium erectum)
Flowers of three deep red flowers with clusters of three large leaves. Grows in woodlands.
Rue Anemone (Thalictrum thalictroides)
Small white flowers with yellow centers, rounded leaves of three indistinct lobes. Grows in woodlands.
Trout Lily (Erythronium americanum)
Narrow yellow petals with red or orange centers, mottled green leaves. Lives in woods and meadows.
Yellow Marsh Marigold or Cowslip (Caltha palustris)
Five yellow petals surrounding a “fuzzy” yellow center. Large, rounded, heart-shaped leaves. Grows in wet areas or near bodies of water.
May
Blue Toadflax (Nattallanthus canadensis)
Multiple purple and white flowers arranged in a spiral on a single stem. This plant utilizes dry, sandy soil.
Canada Mayflower, Wild Lily-of-the-Valley (Maianthemum canadense)
Small white flowers clustered on stems above large heart-shaped leaves. A denizen of the forest.
Coltsfoot (Tussilago farfara)
Round, “fuzzy” golden blooms resembling dandelions or marigolds. Grows in moist soil, often alongside moving water.
Canada Violet (Viola canadensis)
Five-petaled white flowers with yellow to orange-brown centers.
Common Blue Violet (Viola papilionacea)
Light purple flowers of standard violet shape. Grows in well-watered fields and woodlands.
Duchman’s Breeches (Dicentra cucullaria)
White V-shaped blossoms with yellow bottoms, so named because they resemble pants hanging upside-down from a clothesline. Grows in woodland areas.
False Solomon’s Seal (Smilacina racemose)
Tiny white or cream-colored flowers in a cluster. Lives in woodland areas.
Foamflower (Tiarella cordifolia)
Clusters of small white flowers above maple-like leaves. Lives in woodland areas.
Golden Alexanders (Zizia aurea)
Clusters of tiny golden yellow flowers. Lives in swamps and wet meadows.
Herb Robert (Geranium robertianum)
Five-petaled pink flowers with a deeper pink central strip over fernlike, lacy leaves. Grows in shade.
Ox-Eye Daisy (Leucanthemum vulgare)
Daisy-like flowers with large centers and short white petals. Grows in fields and alongside roads.
Painted Trillium (Trillium undulatum)
Three-petaled white flowers with a red triangular center. Grows in wet wooded areas.
Red Trillium (Trillium erectum)
Flowers of three deep red flowers with clusters of three large leaves. Grows in woodlands.
Rue Anemone (Thalictrum thalictroides)
Small white flowers with yellow centers, rounded leaves of three indistinct lobes. Grows in woodlands.
Showy Orchid (Galearis spectabilis)
Ground-dwelling purple and white orchid. Lives in woods and swamps.
Trout Lily (Erythronium americanum)
Narrow yellow petals with red or orange centers, mottled green leaves. Lives in woods and meadows.
Wild Calla (Calla palustris)
Single white petal with a yellow columnar center, resembling a tropical Peace Lily. Grows near bodies of water.
Wild Columbine (Aquilegia canadensis)
Reddish-orange to reddish-brown downturned flowers. Grows in woodland areas.
Yellow Marsh Marigold or Cowslip (Caltha palustris)
Five yellow petals surrounding a “fuzzy” yellow center. Large, rounded, heart-shaped leaves. Grows in wet areas or near bodies of water.
June
Blue Flag (Iris versicolor)
Large bluish-purple petals with yellow central stripes and spear-shaped leaves. This iris species thrives in wet habitats such as swamps, marshes, and meadows.
Blue Toadflax (Nattallanthus canadensis)
Multiple purple and white flowers arranged in a spiral on a single stem. This plant utilizes dry, sandy soil.
Bunchberry (Cornus canadensis)
Four-petaled white flowers with unlobed leaves. Lives in woodlands and bogs.
Canada Mayflower, Wild Lily-of-the-Valley (Maianthemum canadense)
Small white flowers clustered on stems above large heart-shaped leaves. A denizen of the forest.
Canada Violet (Viola canadensis)
Five-petaled white flowers with yellow to orange-brown centers. Lives in wooded areas.
Chickory (Cichorium intybus)
Many-petaled light purple flowers growing on wiry stems alongside dark green foliage. Often found in fields and along roadsides.
Common Blue Violet (Viola papilionacea)
Light purple flowers of standard violet shape. Grows in well-watered fields and woodlands.
Common Milkweed (Asclepias syriaca)
Clusters of pink, yellow, or orange flowers. Grows in fields and along roadsides.
False Solomon’s Seal (Smilacina racemose)
Tiny white or cream-colored flowers in a cluster. Lives in woodland areas.
Foamflower (Tiarella cordifolia)
Clusters of small white flowers above maple-like leaves. Lives in woodland areas.
Golden Alexanders (Zizia aurea)
Clusters of tiny golden yellow flowers. Lives in swamps and wet meadows.
Herb Robert (Geranium robertianum)
Five-petaled pink flowers with a deeper pink central strip over fernlike, lacy leaves. Grows in shade.
Ox-Eye Daisy (Leucanthemum vulgare)
Daisy-like flowers with large centers and short white petals. Grows in fields and alongside roads.
Showy Orchid (Galearis spectabilis)
Ground-dwelling purple and white orchid. Lives in woods and swamps.
Twinflower (Linnaea borealis)
Downturned pink or purple flowers, on pairs on the tip of a stem. Grows in woods and bogs.
Wild Calla (Calla palustris)
Single white petal with a yellow columnar center, resembling a tropical Peace Lily. Grows near bodies of water.
Wild Columbine (Aquilegia canadensis)
Reddish-orange to reddish-brown downturned flowers. Grows in woodland areas.
July
Blue Flag (Iris versicolor)
Large bluish-purple petals with yellow central stripes and spear-shaped leaves. This iris species thrives in wet habitats such as swamps, marshes, and meadows.
Blue Toadflax (Nattallanthus canadensis)
Multiple purple and white flowers arranged in a spiral on a single stem. This plant utilizes dry, sandy soil.
Chickory (Cichorium intybus)
Many-petaled light purple flowers growing on wiry stems alongside dark green foliage. Often found in fields and along roadsides.
Common Milkweed (Asclepias syriaca)
Clusters of pink, yellow, or orange flowers. Grows in fields and along roadsides.
Fireweed (Epilobium angustifolium)
Many pink or purple flowers clustered at the tip of a pointed stem. Can be found in clearings and alongside roads. Often the first plant to colonize recently burned areas.
Herb Robert (Geranium robertianum)
Five-petaled pink flowers with a deeper pink central strip over fernlike, lacy leaves. Grows in shade.
Ox-Eye Daisy (Leucanthemum vulgare)
Daisy-like flowers with large centers and short white petals. Grows in fields and alongside roads.
Pickerelweed (Pontederia cordata)
A spear-shaped cluster of light purple flowers. Grows near bodies of waters.
Twinflower (Linnaea borealis)
Downturned pink or purple flowers, on pairs on the tip of a stem. Grows in woods and bogs.
Wild Bergamot (Monarda fistulosa)
A cluster of pink flowers. Grows in fields or woods.
August
Blue Toadflax (Nattallanthus canadensis)
Multiple purple and white flowers arranged in a spiral on a single stem. This plant utilizes dry, sandy soil.
Boneset (Eupatorium perfoliatum)
Clusters of tiny white flowers with long, narrow, deeply veined leaves. Found in wet areas, such as swamps and along the banks of streams.
Chickory (Cichorium intybus)
Many-petaled light purple flowers growing on wiry stems alongside dark green foliage. Often found in fields and along roadsides.
Fireweed (Epilobium angustifolium)
Many pink or purple flowers clustered at the tip of a pointed stem. Can be found in clearings and alongside roads. Often the first plant to colonize recently burned areas.
Helleborine (Epipactis helleborine)
Pink and green blossoms reminiscent of tropical Phalaenopsis Orchids. Grows in forests.
Herb Robert (Geranium robertianum)
Five-petaled pink flowers with a deeper pink central strip over fernlike, lacy leaves. Grows in shade.
New England Aster (Symphyotrichum novae-angliae)
Striking purple daisy-like flowers with orange centers. Grows in meadows, swamps, and alongside roads.
Pickerelweed (Pontederia cordata)
A spear-shaped cluster of light purple flowers. Grows near bodies of waters.
Wild Bergamot (Monarda fistulosa)
A cluster of pink flowers. Grows in fields or woods.
September
Blue Toadflax (Nattallanthus canadensis)
Multiple purple and white flowers arranged in a spiral on a single stem. This plant utilizes dry, sandy soil.
Boneset (Eupatorium perfoliatum)
Clusters of tiny white flowers with long, narrow, deeply veined leaves. Found in wet areas, such as swamps and along the banks of streams.
Chickory (Cichorium intybus)
Many-petaled light purple flowers growing on wiry stems alongside dark green foliage. Often found in fields and along roadsides.
Helleborine (Epipactis helleborine)
Pink and green blossoms remniswcent of tropical Phalaonopsis Orchids. Grows in forests.
New England Aster (Symphyotrichum novaeangliae)
Striking purple daisy-like flowers with orange centers. Grows in meadows, swamps, and alongside roads.
October
New England Aster (Symphyotrichum novaeangliae)
Striking purple daisy-like flowers with orange centers. Grows in meadows, swamps, and alongside roads.
Do you have photos of some of the flowers included in this wildflower calendar? We’d love to add them to our New England wildflower calendar so that others can enjoy the joy of discovery.
Learn about the best gear to take on your hike.
One part Lois Lane, one part Jimmy Olsen, one part Johnboy Walton, and a bit of that Clark Kent secret identity thing thrown in for good measure.
Cara Siera is a freelance writer and photographer with a passion for travel and exotic cuisine. Join Cara, her husband Marc, and one very spoiled German Shepherd on their next great adventure.