Wisconsin Native Wildflowers Archives - Window to Wildlife

Blooming Native Wildflowers in Wisconsin Spring and Summer 2025

By admin | July 12, 2025 - 7:18 pm |July 13, 2025 Wildflowers

I have tried to capture some of the recent beauty of some spring to summer blooming native wildflowers. Wildflower images have been taken in the yard here in Waukesha or Marquette County. Most wildflowers here are native to Wisconsin. The spring started out with some nice moisture and has continued well into the summer. It has been a great year for enjoying Wisconsin native wildflowers.

Spring Beauty, Clayonia virginica

Jack in the Pulpit, Arisaeme triphyllum

Virginia Bluebells, Mertensia virginica

Wild Ginger, Asarum canadense

Large-flowered Trillium, Trillium grandiflorum

Prairie Trillium, Trillium recurvatum

Bellwort, Uvularia grandiflora

Jacob’s Ladder, Polemonium reptans

Wild Blue Phlox, Phlox divaricata

Wild Blue Indigo, Baptisia australis, range IL and south…

Prairie Phlox, Phlox pilosa

Wild Cloumbine, Aquilegia canadensis

Golden Alexanders, Zizia aurea

Spiderwort, Tradescantia ohiensis

Fire Pink or Scarlet Catchfly, Silene virginica a Wisconsin endangered species…

Indian Paintbrush, Castilleja coccinea, Sawyer Co…

Black-eyed Susan, Rudbeckia hirta

Smooth Phlox, Phlox glaberrima interior, endangered species in Wisconsin…

Red Bee Balm, Monarda didyma

Pale Purple Coneflower, Echinacea pallida

Butterfly Milkweed, asclepias tuberosa

Indian Pink, Spigelia marilandica, native range Illinois south and east…

Purple Milkweed, Asclepias purpurascens, a Wisconsin Endangered species…

Wild Quinine, Parthenium integrifolium

Common Milkweed, Asclepias syriaca

Royal Catchfly, Silene regia, native range IL and IA and south…

Prairie Milkweed or Sullivant’s Milkweed, Asclepias sullivantii, a Wisconsin threatened species…

Blooming Native Wildflowers in Wisconsin Spring and Summer 2024

By admin | August 5, 2024 - 8:31 pm |August 6, 2024 Wildflowers

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I have tried to capture some of the recent beauty of some spring to summer blooming native wildflowers. Wildflower images have been taken in the yard here in Waukesha or Marquette County. Most wildflowers here are native to Wisconsin. The spring started out with nice moisture and has continued well into the summer. I have never seen wildflowers so tall and with so many blooms as this year.

Large-flowered Trillium, Trillium grandiflorum

Shooting Star, Dodecatheon meadia

Bloodroot, Sanguinaria canadensis

Spring Beauty, Clayonia virginica

Virginia Bluebells, Mertensia virginica

Wild Ginger, Asarum canadense

Prairie Phlox, Phlox pilosa

Fire Pink, Silene virginica

Foamflower, Tiarella cordifolia

Golden Alaxanders, Zizia aurea

Wild Hyacinth, Camassia scilloides

Yellow Star Grass, Hypoxis hirsuta

Wild Blue Phlox, Phlox divaricata

Pussy Toes, Antennaria neglecta

Wild Geranium, Geranium maculatum

Jacob’s Ladder, Polemonium reptans

Jack in the Pulpit, Arisaeme triphyllum

Spiderwort, Tradescantia ohiensis

Wild Lupine, Lupinus perennis

Wild Blue Indigo, Baptisia australis, IL and south

Bradbury’s Bee Balm, south central US, Monarda bradburiana

Smooth Phlox, Phlox glaberrima interior

Pale Purple Coneflower, Echinacea pallida

Purple Milkweed, Asclepias purpurascens

Tennessee Coneflower, Echinacea tennesseensis, Tennessee native

Prairie Milkweed, Asclepias sullivantii

Wild Petunia, Ruellia humilis

Cup Plant, Silphium perfoliatum

New Jersey Tea, Ceanothus americanus

Butterfly Milkweed, Asclepias tuberosa

Wild Iris, Blue Flag, Iris virginica

Rosen Weed, Silphium integrifolium

Royal Catchfly, Silene regia

Compass Plant, Silphium laciniatum

Obedient Plant, Physostegia virginiana

Michigan Lily, Lilium michiganense

Nodding Onion, Allium cernuum

Yellow Coneflower, Ratibida pinnata

Cardinal Flower, Lobelia cardinalis

Black-eyed Susan, Rudbeckia hirta

Meadow Blazing Star, Liatris ligulistylis with a Monarch Butterfly

Blooming Native Wildflowers in Wisconsin Summer 2023

By admin | August 6, 2023 - 8:28 pm |October 8, 2023 Bird Categories, Wildflowers

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I have tried to capture some of the recent beauty of some summer blooming native wildflowers. Wildflower images have been taken in the yard here in Waukesha or Marquette County. Most wildflower here are native to Wisconsin. The summer started out with a few rains but things then dried up some with out a good rain for 6 weeks. A few recent rains in late July have brought on some nice blooms.

Red Bee Balm, Monarda didyma, not a Wisconsin native…

Pale Purple Coneflower, Echinacea palida

Fire Pink, Silene virginica

Smooth Phlox, Phlox glaberrima interior, endangered species in Wisconsin…

Poke Milkweed, Asclepias exaltata

Sand Coreopsis, Coreopsis lanceolata, villosa

Ozark Coneflower, Echinacea paradoxa, not a Wisconsin native…

Prairie Cinquefoil, Drymocallis arguta

Swamp Milkweed, Asclepias incarnata

Swamp Milkweed, Asclepias incarnata

Wild Quinine, Parthenium integrifolium

Purple Poppy Mallow, Callirhoe involucrata, not a Wisconsin native…

Wild Bergamot, Monarda fistulosa

Black-eyed Susan, Rudbeckia hirta

Queen of the Prairie, Filipendula rubra

Michigan Lily, Lilium michiganense

Harebell, Campanula rotundifolia

California Poppy, Eschscholzia californica, not a Wisconsin native…

Royal Catchfly, Silene regia, not a Wisconsin native…

Rattlesnake Master, Eryngium yuccifolium

Butterfly Milkweed, Asclepias tuberosa

Michigan Lily, Lilium michiganense

Hoary Vervain, Verbena stricta

Wisconsin Native Wildflowers 2022

By admin | July 26, 2022 - 5:54 pm |July 27, 2022 Bird Categories, Wildflowers

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Wisconsin has so much to offer with native wildflowers blooming spring through fall, I thought I would share a few. Most were taken in the yard here in Waukesha County and some were also taken in some local parks.

Spiderwort, Tradescantia ohiensis

Wild Geranium, Geranium maculatum

Wild Blue Indigo, Baptisia austrlis, native south of Wisconsin

Smooth Phlox, Phlox glaberrima interior, endangered species in Wisconsin…

Spiderwort, white, Tradescantia ohiensis, white found in the wild

Cream Wild Indigo, Baptisia leucophaea

Black-eyed Susan, Rudbeckia hirta

Royal Catchfly, Silene regia

Purple Coneflower, Echinacea purpurea

Yellow Coneflower, Ratibida pinnata

Rattlesnake Master, Eryngium yuccifolium

Prairie Blazingstar, Liatris pycnostachya, a butterfly favorite…

Turk Cap’s Lily, Lilium michiganense

Wild Bergamot, Monarda fistulosa

Rosen Weed, Silphium intergrifolium

Wild Petunia, Ruellia humilis, endangered species in Wisconsin…

Blooming Summer Wisconsin Native Wildflowers in Waukesha County 2020

By admin | July 25, 2020 - 4:11 pm |July 28, 2020 Wildflowers

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I have tried to capture some of the recent beauty of some late spring and summer blooming native wildflowers. Most wildflower images have been taken in the yard here in Waukesha County. Other locations and they noted, were taken at the Retzer Nature Center or in the South Kettle Moraine in Waukesha County. It has been an amazing year for wildflower blooms with the on going moisture and warm temperatures.

Yellow Coneflower, Ratibida pinnata

Smooth Phlox, Phlox glaberrima interior

Compass Plant, Silphium laciniatum at Retzer Nature Center

Wild Petunia, Ruellia humilis at Retzer Nature Center

Purple Prairie Clover, Petalostemum purpureum at Retzer Nature Center

Blue Vervain, Verbena hastata at Retzer Nature Center

Hoary Vervain, Verbena stricta

False Sunflower, Ox-eyed Sunflower, Heliopsis helianthoides

Black-eyed Susan, Rudbeckia hirta

Wild Bergamot, Monarda fistulosa

Turk’s Cap Lily, Lilium michiganense in the South Kettle Moraine

Red Bee Balm, Monarda didyma

New Jersey Tea, Ceanothus americanus

Swamp Milkweed, asclepias incarnata in the South Kettle Moraine

Tennessee Coneflower, Echinacea tennesseensis

Royal Catchfly, Silene regia

Butterfly Milkweed, asclepias tuberosa

Nodding Pink Onion, Allium cernuum

Spiderwort, Tradescantia ohiensis

Rattlesnake Master, Eryngium yuccifolium

Purple Coneflower, Echinacea purpurea

Tennessee Coneflower, Echinacea tennesseensis

Smooth Phlox, Phlox glaberrima interior

August Blooming Wisconsin Native Wildflowers in Waukesha County on August 17, 2019

By admin | August 18, 2019 - 9:15 am |August 18, 2019 Wildflowers

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With a nice day I decided to go out and capture a few nice wildflowers. Weather this year has been exceptional for natives here in the yard in Waukesha County with abundant moisture and warm temperatures but not too hot, just in the 80’s. Some blooms have been hanging on over a month and still looking nice, just amazing! Images were taken on August 17, 2019.

New England Aster, Aster novae-angliae

Orange Coneflower, Rudbeckia fulgida

Obedient Plant, Physostegia virginiana

Cardinal Flower, Lobelia cardinalis

Branched Coneflower, Rudbecki triloba

Woodland Sunflower, Helianthus divaricatus

False Sunflower, Heliopsis helianthoides

Summer Blooming Wisconsin Native Wildflowers in Waukesha County on July 24, 2019

By admin | July 24, 2019 - 8:47 pm |July 25, 2019 Bird Categories, Wildflowers

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With birding slower during the summer I turn towards taking some images of the native wildflowers around us. Some images are of species not native to Wisconsin but the states around us, they are noted. Many of the images taken here in the yard and also a few on the road in Waukesha County Wisconsin. I have added a few images too from late spring.

Smooth Phlox, Phlox glaberrima

Compass Plant, Silphium laciniatum

Royal Catchfly, Silene regia, native to IL and south, not Wisconsin…

Rattlesnake Master, Eryngium yuccifolium

Wild Bergamot, Monarda fistulosa

Queen of the Prairie, Filipendula rubra, not native to Wisconsin but all the states around us…

Yellow Coneflower, Ratibida pinnata

Wild Sweet William, Phlox maculata

Hoary Vervain, Verbena stricta

Ozark Coneflower, Echinacea paradoxa, native to Missouri and south, not Wisconsin…

False Sunflower, Heliopsis helianthoides

Wild Iris, Blue Flag

Purple Coneflower, Echinacea purpurea, native to IL and south, east and west of that state, not Wisconsin…

Prairie Coreopsis, Coreopsis palmata

Black-eyed Susan, Rudbeckia hirta

Blue-eyed Grass

Wild Blue Indigo, Baptisia australis, native to IL and south, east and west of that state, not Wisconsin…

Yellow Pimpernel, Taenioia intergerrima

Wild Petunia, Ruellia humilis

New Jersey Tea, Ceanothus americanus

Rosen Weed, Silphium integrifolium

Nodding Pink Onion, Allium cernuum

Smooth Phlox, Phlox glaberrima

Rattlesnake Master, Eryngium yuccifolium

Compass Plant, Silphium laciniatum

Wild Bergamot, Monarda fistulosa

Purple Coneflower, Echinacea purpurea

Royal Catchfly, Silene regia, native to IL and south, not Wisconsin

Butterfly Milkweed, Asclepias tuberosa

Whorled Milkweed, Asclepias vertcillata

Purple Milkweed, Asclepias purpurea

Purple Milkweed, Asclepias purpurea

Spiderwort, Tradescantia ohiensis

Red Bee Balm, Monarda didyma, native range is eastern US…

Polk Milkweed, Asclepias exaltata

Wild Iris, Blue Flag

Blue-eyed Grass, Sisyrinchium sp.

Smooth Phlox, Phlox glaberrima

Black-eyed Susan, Rudbeckia hirta

Prairie Coreopsis, Coreopsis palmata

Yellow Coneflower, Ratibida pinnata

Rattlesnake Master, Eryngium yuccifolium

Purple Coneflower, Echinacea purpurea, native to IL and south, east and west of that state, not Wisconsin…

Rattlesnake Master, Eryngium yuccifolium

Jack-in-the-Pulpit, Arisaema triphyllum ~ Spring

Virginia Bluebells, Mertensia virginica ~ Spring

Compass Plant, Silphium laciniatum

Wisconsin Native Wildflowers in Milwaukee and Waukesha Counties on May 25, 2018

By admin | May 25, 2018 - 9:43 pm |May 27, 2018 Bird Categories, Wildflowers

Wisconsin Native Wildflowers at Lakeshore State Park in Milwaukee Wisconsin on July 7, 2017

By admin | July 7, 2017 - 7:22 pm |July 8, 2017 Wildflowers

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I stopped at Lakeshore State Park this morning in Milwaukee to see what was blooming there. The park has a nice variety of Wisconsin native wildflowers in beds throughout the park. The park is getting near peak blooms as only a few species are on their way down with most in full bloom with yet more still to come. What a showcase today! It was mostly sunny with a few clouds but there was a steady breeze from the west where at times when the plants would just not sit still. Images were taken on July 7, 2017.

Black-eyed Susan, Rudbeckia hirta

Pale Purple Coneflower, Echinacea pallida

Hoary Vervain, Verbena stricta

Butterfly Milkweed, Asclepias tuberosa

Purple Coneflower, Echinacea purpurea – not a true native to Wisconsin

Purple Prairie Clover, Petalostemum purpureum

White Prairie Clover, Petalostemum candidum

Lance-leaved Coreopsis, Coreopsis lanceolata

Wild Quinine, Parthenium intergrifolium

Hoary Vervain, Verbena stricta

Wild Bergamot, Monarda fistulosa

Spiderwort, Tradescantia ohiensis

Black-eyed Susan, Rudbeckia hirta

Butterfly Milkweed, Asclepias tuberosa

Wild White Indigo, Baptisia leucantha

Black-eyed Susan, Rudbeckia hirta

Wisconsin Native Wildflowers in Waukesha County Wisconsin on July 6, 2017

By admin | July 6, 2017 - 1:05 pm |July 6, 2017 Wildflowers

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I went out for a short time this morning to capture some of Wisconsin stunning native wildflowers in Waukesha Co. Wildflowers have been blooming for months now, but the peak is getting close as I figure with most species blooming at one time. There was a good breeze blowing early morning which made for some challenges in capturing some of the images. The heat was setting in with full sun lots of humidity when I left. Images were taken on July 6, 2017

Smooth Phlox, Glaberrima ssp. interior

Butterfly Milkweed, Asclepias tuberosa

Black-eyed Susan, Rudbeckia hirta

Pale Purple Coneflower, Echinacea pallida

Spiderwort, Tradescantia ohiensis

Yellow Coneflower, Ratibida pinnata

Rosen Weed, Silphium intergrifolium

Compass Plant, Silphium laciniatum

Wild Bergamot, Monarda fistulosa

Prairie Cinquefoil, Potentilla arguta

Smooth Phlox, glaberrima ssp. interior

False, Oxeye or Early Sunflower, Heliopsis helianthoides

Wild White Indigo, Baptisia leucantha

Prairie Coreopsis, Coreopsis palmata

Butterfly Milkweed, Asclepias tuberosa

Common Milkweed, Asclepias syriaca with a honey bee…

Pale Purple Coneflower, echinacea pallida

Branched Coneflower or Brown-eyed Susan, Rudbecki triloba

Yellow Coneflower, ratibida pinnata

False, Oxeye or Early Sunflower, Heliopsis helianthoides

Smooth Phlox, glaberrima ssp. interior

Prairie Cinquefoil, Potentilla arguta

Common Milkweed, Asclepias syriaca

Butterfly Milkweed, Asclepias tuberosa

Wildflower Walk and Photo Shoot at the Retzer Nature Center in Waukesha Wisconsin on July 19, 2016

By admin | July 19, 2016 - 5:34 pm |July 20, 2016 Wildflowers

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We had a very nice turnout of members show up this morning for the annual wildflower walk and photo shoot at the Retzer Nature Center in Waukesha. This annual event is a field trip for the Retzer Nature Center Camera Club. Lighting was nice early this morning with light cloud cover and very little wind for the 2 hour event. I think the group walked away with some great shots as it is peak blooming time for many native species at the nature center. It was a fun event for everyone in sharing some of each others photography tips and ideas. Some images to share from the event today on July 19, 2016.

Cardinal Flower, Lobelia cardinalis

Wild Petunia, Ruellia humilis

Yellow Coneflower, Ratibida pinnata

Nodding Onion, Allium cernuum

Hoary Vervain, Verbena stricta

Rosenweed, Silphium integrifolium

Culver’s Root, Veronicastrum virginicum

Wild Bergamot, Monarda fistulosa

Prairie Indian Plantain, Arnogossum plantagineum

Pale Indian Plantain, Cacalia atriplicifolia

Rattlesnake Master, Eryngium yuccifolium

Woodland Sunflower, Helianthus divaricatus

Sweet Black-eyed Susan, Rudbeckia subtomentosa

Purple Coneflower, Echinacea purpurea

Compass Plant, Silphium laciniatum

Dense Blazingstar, Liatris spicata

Blackeyed Susan, Rudbeckia hirta

Early Goldenrod, Solidago juncea

Spring Blooming Native Wildflowers in Waukesha County Wisconsin on June 9, 2016

By admin | June 9, 2016 - 4:47 pm |June 10, 2016 Wildflowers

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I have put together some recently taken images of wildflowers here in Waukesha Co. There are a couple that are native to the midwest, but not Wisconsin. Those wildflowers are stated on the images. Images were taken in 2016 through June 9, 2016.

Spiderwort, Tradescantia ohiensis

Spiderwort, Tradescantia ohiensis

Spiderwort, Tradescantia ohiensis alba

Wild Columbine, Aquilegia canadensis

Wild Blue Phlox, Phlox divaricata

Wild Blue Phlox, Phlox divaricata

Bloodroot, Sanguinaria canadensis

Bloodroot, Sanguinaria canadensis

Meadow Phlox, Phlox maculata (introduced species in Wisconsin)

Wild Lupine, Lupinus perennis

Wild Blue Indigo, Baptisia australis, (introduced species in Wisconsin)

Bloodroot, Sanguinaria canadensis

Wild Geranium, Geranium maculatum

Wild Columbine, Aquilegia canadensis

Meadow Phlox, Phlox maculata (introduced species in Wisconsin)

Meadow Phlox, Phlox maculata (introduced species in Wisconsin)

Wild Iris, Blue Flag, Iris versicolor

Wild Iris, Iris virginica shrevei

Foamflower, Tiarella cordifolia

Yellow Pimpernel, Taenidia integerrima

Summer Blooming Wisconsin Native Wildflowers in Waukesha County on July 15, 2015

By admin | July 15, 2015 - 5:36 pm |July 15, 2015 Wildflowers

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Summer Blooming Wisconsin Native Wildflowers in Waukesha County on July 15, 2015.

Turk’s cap Lily, Lilium michiganense

The bud of the Turk’s cap Lily, Lilium michiganense

Prairie Dock, Silphium terebinthinaceum

Culver’s Root, Veronicastrum virginicum

Sullivant’s Milkweed, Asclepias sullivantii

Compass Plant, Silphium laciniatum

New Jersey Tea, Ceanothus americanus

Hoary Vervain, Verbena stricta

Turk’s cap Lily, Lilium michiganense

Black-eyed Susan, Rudbecki hirta, image taken July 5, 2015

Spring Blooming Wisconsin Native Wildflowers 2015

By admin | May 8, 2015 - 6:10 pm |June 7, 2015 Wildflowers

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Spring Blooming Wisconsin Native Wildflowers 2015

Prairie Spiderwort, Tradescantia bracteata

Wild Iris, Iris virginica shrevei

Spiderwort, Tradescantia ohiensis

Wild Lupine, Lupinus perennis

Wild Cloumbine, Aquilegia canadensis May 8, 2015

Wild Geranium, Geranium maculatum May 8, 2015

Wild Blue Phlox, Phlox divaricata May 8, 2015

Foamflower, Tiarella cordifolia May 8, 2015

Jack in the Pulpit, Arisaema triphyllum May 8, 2015

Virginia Bluebells, Mertensia virginica May 8, 2015

Large White Flowered Trillium, Trillium grandiflorum May 8, 2015

Jack in the Pulpit, Arisaema triphyllum May 8, 2015

Wild Blue Phlox, Phlox divaricata May 8, 2015

Prairie Smoke, Geum triflorum May 8, 2015

Bloodroot, Sanguinaria canadensis April 2015

Wisconsin Native Wildflowers and Shrubs July 5, 2014

By admin | July 5, 2014 - 6:24 pm |July 6, 2014 Uncategorized

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22 different Wisconsin native wildflowers and shrubs blooming on July 5, 2014. Most images were taken at the Retzer Nature Center Waukesha County Wisconsin. A couple others were taken on private property in Waukesha County Wisconsin.