Popular Wildflowers Found in Georgia

Georgia’s landscape varies widely from its hot, sandy coasts to its higher, cooler mountains and everything in between.

With an abundance of water, plenty of sunlight and a climate that encourages growth, it’s no wonder that Georgia is covered with colorful wildflowers that adorn meadows, roadsides and mountain trails. 

Here are just a few of the more recognizable ones that you’re likely to see out and about. You might see some of these and you might see some of the other 520+ species of wildflowers found here in Georgia… so good luck finding them all!

13 common wildflowers found around Atlanta

Virginia bluebells

These beautiful, delicate wildflowers are native to eastern North America and are one of the earliest to bloom in Georgia. They can be found in wet shade and on the edges of deciduous woods, and you can identify them by their blue, bell-shaped flowers that grow up to 6 inches tall. Virginia Bluebells are a favorite of pollinators, including butterflies and hummingbirds.

Swamp milkweed

This flower is part of the milkweed family of flowers that cover most of the United States, though this particular variety is native to swamps, wet meadows and damp areas here in Georgia.

Fun fact about milkweed: the entire plant is toxic to nearly all animals aside from one — the monarch butterfly! The colorful creatures lay their eggs on the plant so that the larvae can eat the leaves as they grow without interference from other herbivores, and other animals have learned to not eat the butterflies because of all the toxic milkweed they'd ingest as a byproduct!

Fire pink

This wildflower with its clusters of red, star-shaped flowers with forked petals is a member of the carnation family, though unlike many of its cousin members that spread out on the ground, it grows vertically up to 1 foot tall.

Wild geranium

Wild geranium has gentle pink, purple, or white flower clusters and grows about 1 foot tall. This particular flower is a common wildflower in Georgia and can be found in woodlands, meadows, and roadsides all over the state. 

Tiny bluets

Tiny bluets are small wildflowers with blue, star-shaped flowers above delicate green leaves — the entire plant only grows about 2 inches tall! 

Dwarf violet iris

This stunning wildflower is easily identifiable by its three purple petals above three drooping, yellow-striped sepals (kind of like petals, but not really). You’re most likely to see these in mid to late spring, but don’t be tempted to pick them!

Woodland phlox

Though small, these six-petaled lavender-colored flowers are bright and a real treat to see. Their symmetrical shape and their large clusters growing around rocks, walls and pathways make them easy to spot, though you’ll have to differentiate them from the many, many other varieties of phlox that also grow in Georgia. 

Butterfly milkweed

With orange, daisy-like flowers and growing about 2 feet tall, this wildflower is a favorite of butterflies. Butterfly Weed is native to the southeastern United States and can be found in a variety of habitats, including prairies, meadows, and fields. It’s a member of the milkweed family, and its flowers are a favorite food source for Monarch butterflies.

Joe pye weed

If you haven’t heard of this unusually-named flower, then you’re not alone — it’s not a popular flower outside the state because it’s actually native to wet meadows and woodlands right here in Georgia!

This tall, umbrella-shaped plant has purple flowers atop a long, thin stem with dark green leaves. Like the majority of umbrella-shaped flowering plants, it can be toxic to animals and humans (deer don’t even go near this stuff!) but they're a big hit with local pollinators. 

Black-eyed Susan

Black-eyed Susans are common in open areas like fields, prairies, roadsides and in sunny woodlands. They’re not hard to spot, either, since they grow in big bunches and are easily identifiable by their dark “eye” in the center of yellow, orange, brown or red petals. 

Spring beauty

Also known as the Virginia spring beauty, these short plants boast some truly beautiful blooms. The tiny white flowers  growing on delicate stems actually sport miniscule pink veins, so be sure to get an up-close look if you find one!

Goldenrod

Though each flower is tiny, their large clusters atop tall grass-like plants are certainly bright enough to catch your eye along roadsides and fences. They are especially popular with pollinators as they are absolutely stuffed with pollen!

Dandelion

Dandelion is native to Europe and Asia, but it has naturalized in North America and can be found in grassy areas and roadsides all over the country. True dandelions (plants with a single flower on a single stem) are entirely edible and have been added to salads and teas by generations of Georgia residents.

Whether you’re hiking in the remote Appalachians or strolling to an urban park near our luxury Atlanta apartments, you’re sure to see some flowers growing out of any cracks and crevasses they can find!

Have fun!

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Featured photo courtesy Pixabay/Nennieinszweidrei