Spring is in the air and the wildflowers are adorning the Smoky Mountains. The earliest ephemerals have already begun unfurling their leaves and blooms. They will leaf out, flower, and fruit within a short two-month period before the trees leaf out. But the show doesn’t end there as the Smokies are home to over 1,500 species of flowering plants. Wildflowers continue through summer and fall. Variations in elevation, rainfall, temperature, and geology create an ideal habitat for an amazing diversity of plants. In fact, there are over 20 flowering plants that are only found in the Southern Appalachians. Check out the infographic below for more fun facts about Smoky Mountain wildflowers.
