Columbia River Gorge Wildflowers
Identify Spring Lilies, Lupine, Blue-eyed Grass, Camas and More
Bitter root, glacier lily, paintbrush, larkspur and balsam root are among the wildflowers to look for in the Columbia River Gorge from March through June.
The Columbia River Gorge, dividing Washington and Oregon, becomes a natural garden of wildflowers during the spring. Some of the flowers are easy to spot, like lupine and balsam root, others hidden in the display of color. Blooming begins in March (even February for a few) and species change as the season warms. Part of the striking diversity of flowers owes to the 85-mile Gorge’s two distinct climate zones. Cutting through the Cascade Mountain Range, the region is dry on the eastern side of the mountains, but wet and densely forested on the western side. The two zones meet in the central Gorge giving rise to the greatest variety and abundance of flowers. The following can be seen in this central area from March through June. Catherine Creek and Tom McCall Nature Preserve near the town of Hood River are two prime viewing sites with easy walking trails of three miles or less.
Grass Widow (Sisyrinchium douglasii). These delicate members of the iris family are among the first to appear in March in the central and eastern Gorge. The small pink-to-purple flowers grow from stems and clasping leaf blades that resemble grass. Stems reach from six to 10 inches high.
Shooting Star (Dodecatheon poeticum). Another common name, “poet’s shooting star” perfectly describes these lovely deep pink flowers with yellow centers. The petals sweep backward to reveal pointed stamens in the yellow center. Several grow on each bare stem that rises from basal leaves. They bloom March through April.
Glacier Lily (Erythronium grandiflorum). These striking lilies have yellow petals that curl back to prominently display the stamens. Flowers are about 2 inches across on stems 6 inches to a foot tall. They begin blooming in March and continue through May in open oak woods.
Yellow Bells (Fritillaria pudica). Another March bloomer, these yellow nodding, bell-shaped members of the lily family grow singly on stems up to ten inches tall. They’re found in open grasslands.
Cluster Lily (Brodiaea howellii). There are several types of Brodiaea, all similar with clusters of white flowers, sometimes with purple streaks or colored almost completely purple. Flowers cluster at the top of stems that grow to about a foot or more in height. Some favor the wetter sections, others the dry grasslands. They begin blooming in April and various species continue through June.
Blue-eyed Grass (Sisyrinchium angustifolium). These are similar to Grass Widow, but a darker blue. Their little six-petal flowers seem to emerge from the folds of the grass-like stem and leaves. They’re found in moister patches of the Central Gorge in May and June. Their stems reach from 6 inches to a foot high.
Chocolate Lily (Fritillaria lanceolata). This lily is particularly interesting for its unusual color, which ranges from chocolate brown to very deep purple with yellow speckles. Nodding downward, they grow several to a stem, favoring the open oak woods. They bloom in April and May.
Blue Camas (Camassia quamash). This member of the lily family was important to Native Americans, who collected the bulbs for food. The delicate six-petal flowers grow several to a stem, some blooming while others above them are still buds. While these are blue, a similar white flower, called the "Death Camas," is poisonous. Camas prefer spots where spring moisture collects. They bloom from April to early May.
Bitter Root (Lewisia rediviva). These come as a surprise on first sight. They grow close to the ground in dry rocky areas, pushing their multi-petal pink blooms up between the stones. They grow on hidden stems, but often in the company of others nearby. Look for them in May and June.
Balsam Root (Balsamorhiza deltoidea and Balsamorhiza sagittata). Both very similar, these abundant sunflower-like blooms spread across Gorge grasslands and oak woods in April and May. They grow to about a foot or two in height, surrounded by a dense base of large arrow-shaped leaves. The sunny flowers are about three or four inches across.
Lupine (Lupinus sp.) Blue lupines mix with Balsam Root to carpet fields and oak woods during April and May. While there are several similar species, most grow as one- to two-foot-stocks bearing numerous individual flowers.
Paintbrush (Castilleja hispida) Several species of paintbrush find different niches in the Gorge, but all are similar. Red colors the long upper stretch of these flowers that are actually formed of numerous leaf bracts. The result resembles a bushy paintbrush. Though red is the predominant color, some can be seen in shades of yellow and orange.
These are some of the most abundant flowers growing in the central Gorge area. The article Columbia Gorge Field Wildflowers provides descriptions and photos of more flowers of Gorge woodlands and grassy hillsides. On the damper, western side of the Gorge, many common Pacific Northwest wildflowers can be seen.
References:
Wildflowers of the Columbia Gorge by Russ Jolley (Oregon Historical Society Press) is an excellent field guide with information about more than 700 Gorge wildflowers, including where and when they can be viewed.
Friends of the Columbia Gorge offers information and leads wildflower hikes throughout the season.
