Alaska Wildflowers

Alaska Wildflowers

There are over 1500 species of wildflowers in the state of Alaska. This collection only covers a small fraction of them but will grow over time. I’m working on photographing key identifying features on as many as I can over our short summers. This Alaska Wildflower Guide contains valuable information about each plant as well as references and links for further reading. Each post contains information on taxonomy, identification, plant uses and edibility, and each plant’s distribution and native habitat. The accompanying photo galleries may also be useful for wildflower identification and contain over 500 photos to date.

Alaska poppy wildflower
Rooted Poppy and Alaska Poppy – Papaver radicatum

Identification and information of the Rooted poppy, Alaska poppy, and some similar species and subspecies found around Alaska. Photos of Papaver radicatum.

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Arctic sandwort - Minuartia arctica
Arctic Sandwort – Minuartia arctica

Arctic sandwort is a mat-forming plant with small, white, 5-petaled flowers. It grows in rocky or gravelly alpine environments and is native...

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Labrador Tea – Rhododendron tomentosum
Labrador Tea – Rhododendron tomentosum

Rhododendron tomentosum is a low to medium-sized evergreen shrub. Each plant has several white-flowered inflorescences. Precautions should be taken if using as...

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Wild Iris – Iris Setosa
Wild Iris – Iris Setosa

The flower of the wild iris is deep violet to blue 6-10 cm (2.5-4 inches) across with 2 sets of three petals....

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Yellow flowers of labrador lousewort taken in Nome Creek, Alaska.
Labrador Lousewort – Pedicularis labradorica

Labrador lousewort is a 5-15 inch partially parasitic plant with an inflorescence of yellow flowers. Native to Alaska, Canada and Greenland it...

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Purple Mountain Saxifrage flowers in rocky talus near the Black Rapids Glacier
Purple Mountain Saxifrage – Saxifraga oppositifolia

Purple mountain saxifrage is a low-growing, small, matted plant with dark green rounded and scaly leaves earning it the name French Knot....


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narcissus-flowered anemone on Ester Dome in Fairbanks, Alaska
Narcissus anemone – Anemone narcissiflora

The narcissus anemone typically has 4-10 white sepals and somewhat hairy, basal leaves. It grows up to 60 cm (23 inches) tall...

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Arctic Primrose – Primula pumila
Arctic Primrose – Primula pumila

The Arctic primrose tends to live in very wet soil and stream beds. It grows to be about 10-12 cm tall. It...

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Northern Kittentails – Synthyris borealis
Northern Kittentails – Synthyris borealis

Northern Kittentails is a small, purple flower about 2-3 cm in diameter. They mostly grow individually in rocky, alpine areas, or in...

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Common Fireweed – Chamaenerion angustifolium
Common Fireweed – Chamaenerion angustifolium

Fireweed's common name comes from the fact that it can revegetate quickly after forest fires. Each flower is symmetrical about the vertical...

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Larkspur – Delphinium glaucum
Larkspur – Delphinium glaucum

The larkspur is a tall, single stem flowering plant that grows 3-6 ft (0.9-1.8 m) in height with spurred, purple flowers. Toxic...

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Moss campion – Silene acaulis
Moss campion – Silene acaulis

Moss campion is a cushion-like plant with 6-12mm (1/4-1/2 in) diameter, pink or whitish-pink 5-petal flowers, and 10 stamens.

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Alaska Cotton – Eriophorum
Cottongrass – Alaska Cotton – Eriophorum

Most species of Alaska cotton are between 30-60 cm (12-24 in) tall with a drooping head of cotton that is whitish in...

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Wooly lousewort – Pedicularis kanei
Woolly lousewort – Pedicularis lanata

One of the early blooming wildflowers in Alaska, this pinkish flower is frequently seen in late May or early June in the...

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