Last August I saw so many beautiful wildflowers in Glacier National Park. Here are a few that I loved seeing:

Alpine Daisy or Aster Alpinus

Where they live: Alpine or Subalpine mountain zones where it’s cooler

Soil: Often rocky or well-drained

Sun: Prefer full sun

Photo taken: Above Hidden Lake

Fireweed or Chamaenerion Angustifolium

I love this wildflower so much because it typically grows in places that have recently had a wildfire. How poetic is that?

Where they live: Mountain meadows and slopes; along forest edges after clear-cutting or logging; roadsides, riverbanks. In areas where the ground has been disturbed after events such as landslides, fires, or logging.

Soil: Moist, well-drained

Sun: Prefer full sun

Photo taken: At Big Bend

Wolf’s Bane or Arnica Montana

Where they live: Open alpine or subalpine meadows and open woodlands and grasslands

Soil: They prefer soil without a lot of nutrients

Sun: Prefer full sun but can tolerate partial shade

Photo taken: On the Hidden Lake Trail

Indian Paintbrush or Castilleja

This year I backpacked Paintbrush Canyon in Grand Teton National Park and I hadn’t known how many colors of Paintbrush there were out there! I particularly love this shade on pink.

Where they live: Open meadows, slopes, prairies, grasslands and sometimes the desert

Soil: Sandy or rocky soils that are nutrient-poor

Sun: Full sun to partial shade

Photo taken: On the Hidden Lake trail

Purple Monkeyflower or Mimulus Lewisii

Where they live: I usually see this flower at higher elevations near streams and other water sources.

Soil: Prefers moist, rich soils

Sun: Full sun to partial shade

Photo taken: On the Hidden Lake trail