10 Flowers You Will See in Little Rock This Spring
Arkansas has a wonderfully diverse ecosystem that supports a wide range of wildflowers. You don’t have to take the kids to a botanical garden this spring to teach them about Arkansas’ native flowers. The state transportation department has designated nearly 1,000 miles of Arkansas highways as wildflower routes, so you'll spot hundreds of varieties while driving. You’ll also see them along rural roadsides and in natural areas, and find just as many in parks or even your own yard.
Look out for these wildflowers while doing spring maintenance on your lawn, and leave them be. Development threatens some of these beautiful species, but by leaving existing plants or sowing seeds, you can help increase your yard’s diversity. Here are the top 10 flowers you will see in Little Rock this spring and some tips on where to find them
1. Bird’s Foot Violet
Delicate and distinctive, this low-lying flower pops up in March and blooms until early June. Bird’s foot violets are woodland plants and prefer partial shade in dry, rocky or sandy conditions. Look for it in upland areas in dappled shade.
2. Black-Eyed Susan
Native to prairie lands, the bright, cheerful black-eyed Susan begins blooming in May in fields and along roadsides. The single flowers perch on stems between one and two feet tall and last until early fall.
3. Blue Larkspur
The striking blue larkspur can grow as tall as 4 feet but is typically around 2 feet tall. The delicate spires are topped with spikes of clustered, orchid-like flowers that flare from a pointed base. Ranging from whitish to reddish blue, keep your eyes peeled for larkspur on partly shaded slopes and roadsides beginning in May.
4. Butterfly Weed
The primary food source for monarch butterflies, the unusual flower formations of this milkweed variety are hard to miss. Bushy and up to 2 feet tall, butterfly weed bloom clusters are deep orange and waxy-looking. Find this flower in sunny, well-drained soils from May to Septembe
5. Indian Paintbrush
An early bloomer, Indian paintbrush begins to put on its display in April. Look along moist roadsides and prairies in full sun for these distinctive, upturned scarlet flowers. The blooms of this flower are unusually shaped, with a rounded, green, fanlike formation. The tips look as if they've been dipped in red paint.
6. Purple Coneflower
A show-stopping perennial, purple coneflower is the bloom of echinacea, the root famous for its medicinal properties. Reaching heights of up to 5 feet tall, the bright purple petals surrounding a brilliant orange center are easy to spot. From April to September, keep an eye out on sunny roadsides and woodland areas for coneflower.
7. Mexican Hat Flower
This flower is undeniably adorable. From June to October, you can find this 2- to 3-foot-tall native in prairies, open areas and piney woods. They are often seen along roadsides, close to Indian paintbrushes. It's easy to identify Mexican hats by their 2-inch-long flower head, with drooping orange and yellow petals radiating from a long, brown center.
8. Showy Evening Primrose
From April to July, evening primroses grace dry open areas and roadsides. This is one of the wildflowers you're most likely to find in backyards. If you’re lucky enough to have some close by, watch the white or pink flowers open as the sun goes down. These flowers normally grow in a grouping, often covering a patch many feet long and wide. Each flower lasts only one day.
9. Solomon’s Seal
This unusual flowering woodland plant grows in shady areas, usually around the base of trees. The stalks can extend up to 5 feet long, and the tubular, white flowers dangle in pairs from the stems, in a delicate arc. Look for these blooms from March to June. Solomon’s seal is a member of the lily family and does well in garden beds with rich, moist soils.
10. Spider Lily
The striking spider lily grows from 1 and a half to 2 feet tall and blooms from May to August. The bloom is called an umbel — a ring of five to 10 fragrant, white flowers with long, spidery petals. These unusual beauties are rare in the wild and are only found in swampy, moist soils, usually in wooded areas along streams or ponds.
There are many other flowers you may spy out and about in and around Little Rock this spring. Arkansas is home to more than 600 varieties. So the next time you’re picnicking at Two Rivers Park or Pinnacle Mountain State Park, take time out to smell the roses, and the spider lilies and purple coneflowers!
Justine Santos made her camping debut at age 3 months. The nature habit stuck, and now she hikes, skis and rides mountain bikes in as many natural areas as she can — often with her own two children in tow.