The famous displays on Gregory Bald bloom in mid to late June and on Andrews Bald in late June. Where are the largest trees in the Park? Its all part of the thrill for those chasing the bloom, but the rewards are the exquisite colors and fresh scents of the flowers. What time of the year do rhododendrons bloom in North Carolina? The landscape is beautiful, with flowers blooming, waterfalls gushing and the hillsides starting to turn green. If you are in Gatlinburg, please stop in at my gallery . Functional cookies help to perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms, collect feedbacks, and other third-party features. Parking Program Info, More than 1500 species of wildflowers are native to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, more than any other national park. Below shows the pineapple-shaped bud of a Rhododendron. This variability has given birth to the phrase chasing the bloom, in which flower enthusiasts and floral tourists track the flower as it first appears in different parts of the mountains. Bring bug spray and wear long pants and sleeves to avoid a run-in with a blood sucker. If you do visit during the summer, stick to higher elevations where highs range in the 60s and 70s. But when is the best season to visit? Nights are mild, making it a great time of year to tent-camp or backpack. It is spelled "Smoky Mountains" The term Smokey is a slang term for a police officer, because Smokey the Bear wears a trooper hat.) Flame azalea can also be seen on Balsam Mountain Road. Each spring, the park hosts the Spring Wildflower Pilgrimage, a week-long festival of programs and guided walks and hikes that explore the wondrous diversity of life in the park. Smoky Mountains Wildflowers: Rhododendron - William Britten Leave it there for somebody else to enjoy.". Big blooms occur every 2-4 years when a higher percentage of the shrubs bear flowers, but researchers are not certain exactly when or why these happen. It takes a little effort to get there, but will be well worth the trek. Learn where to to see the best spring wildflowers, Blood RootButtercupsColumbineDutchmans BreechesHepaticaJack-in-the PulpitMayapplePepper RootRed MapleSpice BushSpring BeautySquirrel CornTrout LilyVioletsWild PlumWind FlowerYellow-Root, ArbutusBlack HawBleeding HeartBlue SageBluetsBrook LettuceButtercupsColumbineCrested Dwarf IrisCucumber TreeDogwoodDutchmans BreechesFire PinkFoam FlowerFringed PhaceliaGolden RagwortIndian PaintbrushIronwoodJack-in-the-PulpitLarge FloweredBellwortMayappleMeadow Rue (early)PhloxRedbudService TreeSilverbellSolomons SealSpring Beauty (uplands)Squirrel CornStone CropTrailing Trillium (various)Trout LilyTulip PoplarVioletsVirginia BluebellWild GeraniumWild MustardWood Sorrel, Bleeding HeartBluetsBrook LettuceCalycanthusColumbineCrested Dwarf IrisCucumber TreeFlame AzaleaFoam FlowerHobble BushIndian PaintbrushLarge FloweredBellwortMagnoliaMountain LaurelPainted TrilliumService Tree (uplands)Silverbell (uplands)Solomons SealStone CropWhite AzaleaWild CrabWild GeraniumWild IrisWild Orchids (incl. The One Subscription to Fuel All Your Adventures. Bears weigh eight ounces at birth. Rhododendron (Azalea, Rhododendron, Rosebay) | North Carolina Extension Bloomin' gorgeous, and where to see wild rhododendrons - Roanoke Times Bloom colors range from white to pink in the wild, although some cultivars of dark pink and even maroon have been grown. The predominant species are the Catawba and Rosebay. You should pass by both species as the elevation changes, so you will be able to see both lovely pink and white flowers. Like all other plants, your rhododendron is also going to require a considerable amount of care. If you plan accordingly, you could enjoy these blooms for almost half a year or more! June 16-18, 2023 Two Rhododendron Festivals (North Carolina and Tennessee) are held in the Roan Mountain area ( see our Roan Mountain Guide) on the third weekend of June. The blooms usually peak around the third week of June. More. This cookie is set by Addthis to make sure you see the updated count if you share a page and return to it before our share count cache is updated. On Jun 22, 2021 June is a popular time of year to visit the Smokies! What makes it so magical is the sheer number of these plants spread over vast rolling mountains. Get access to more than 30 brands, premium video, exclusive content, events, mapping, and more. Are the rhododendrons blooming in the Smokies? Best places to see wildflowers in the Great Smoky Mountains - WBIR Smoky Mountains Fall Foliage Forecast Blooms at higher elevations can be up to 3-4 weeks later. The rosebay's are one of the parks most common woody plants. If youre out walking with your dog, just make sure they dont decide mountain laurel looks good to eat as it is toxic to many animals (people included!). Mid-June to July is the bloom time for the wild Smoky Mountains Rhododendrons. So what makes the Rhododendrons in Great Smoky Mountains National Park so special? The Rhododendron Festival is the third weekend of June. When do rhododendrons bloom in the smoky mts? The flowers appear earlier in the southern reaches of the Appalachians, so Pennsylvania often doesnt see rhododendrons until June or even July. Along the highest peaks it flowers in late June. Rhododendron catawbiense (Catawba Rhododendron, Mountain Rosebay Two good walking trails for viewing wildflowers arethe Deep Creek trails and the River Trail at the Oconaluftee Visitor Center in Cherokee. Temperatures and other weather conditions can trigger an early season or a late season, while different rhododendron species typically blossom at different times. "You think you're stopping for these great mountain views and these mountain vistas, if you just stop to take in the great view, but if you look down at your feet, too, sometimes you'll find some amazing little gems right at your feet. The further south you get and the lower in altitude, the earlier the flowers bloom. Rosebays big clumps of whitish flowers appear in June at the lower elevations and from July into August at the middle altitudes. These are just a few of the beautiful wildflowers you might spot while hiking in the Smoky Mountains. They were absolutely beautiful. The lovely pink and white flowers of mountain laurel bloom in early May through June. The selected locations are referenced to Parkway milepost markers beginning with Milepost 0 at Rockfish Gap in Virginia and ending at Milepost 469 in North Carolina. What time of the year do rhododendrons bloom in North Carolina? They are one of the most popular blooms to see in the park. Where and When to See Wildflowers on the Trail - Uncommon Path 47: No. While lower park elevations often see winter daytime temperatures in the 50s, it can get much colder and snowier at higher elevations. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. This cookie is set by Addthis. There are primarily two types to look for. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. The second most popular location to view the Flame Azaleas is to hike the Andrews Bald in late June. The cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional". It might take a year or two for you to figure out the exact times when the plant blooms. On Andrews Bald the peak is usually in early July. Alternatively, you may use, Baymont by Wyndham Gatlinburg on the River, Holiday Inn Club Vacations Smoky Mountain Resort, an IHG Hotel, The Park Vista - a DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel - Gatlinburg, Westgate Smoky Mountain Resort & Water Park. more information on current conditions mountain laurel, rhododendron and flame azaleas. Porters Creek Trail. The plants can reach up to three feet tall, and the flowers are red or yellow, tubular, and face downwards. Rhododendron blooms range in color from white to yellow, pink, orange, red and purple. Head to Oconaluftee to tour the Mountain Farm Museum, a collection of structures from the late 1800s, or visit nearby Mingus Mill. Throughout late May and June (low elevations bloom first), the quintessential Carolina shrub bursts with brilliant color, decorating trails and covering hilly bluffs with their huge blooms. Catawba Rhododendron - Rhododendron catawbiense | Monticello Crowds are usually minimal, especially in early spring, making it a good time to check out some of the more popular parts of the park. When & Where To Find Wildflowers in the Smoky Mountains North Carolina Wildflowers Guide (& Where to See Them) Click the image below to see it in action and to get your own copy. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. Growing up with a mom who filled her home (inside and out) with all sorts of plants, Lisa got her start in gardening at a young age. The wildflower season begins with the spring ephemerals in March & April. (And 3 Ways to Improve the Blooms), 4 Possible Reasons Your Venus Flytrap Is Turning Black. Its white and pink flowers bloom from early May through June on trails and roadways throughout the park. You can find them on dry, steep banks in elevations between 1,500 and 2,500 feet. Give them what they need, and theyll give you what you need (without having to chase them) every spring. This cookies is set by Youtube and is used to track the views of embedded videos. Heres our guide to the pros and cons of visiting Great Smoky Mountains National Park in every season. Bloom peaks along the Parkway in Virginia are usually earlier than in North Carolina due to lower elevation.