Wildflowers of Nevada County

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Wildflower Guide

Wildflowers of Nevada County

The wildflowers of the South Yuba River start to bloom the first part of March and they should be at full bloom between the end of March and the first part of April. The bloom continues until the end of April, depending on the weather. Heavy spring rains extend the wildflower season.

The best trail to view wildflowers in the South Yuba River State Park/Bridgeport area is on the north side of the river, (opposite side from the Rangers office), upstream from the Pleasant Valley Road bridge. The trail starts at the lower end of the north parking lot. Approximately 100 yards up the trail there is a "Y". Take the trail to the left. The total length of this trail is approximately 1 1/2 miles. Another excellent area to view wildflowers is on the Independence Trail. This trail is located on Hwy. 49 approximately 10 miles north of Nevada City. This trail is wheelchair accessible.

It is illegal to pick or remove wildflowers from State Park Property. Please help us to protect this beautiful resource; take only pictures and fond memories.

PLANTS FOUND ALONG THE BUTTERMILK BEND TRAIL (South Yuba River State Park)

Canyon Dudleya A colorful succulent plant that clings to the trail side rocks.

Zig Zag Larkspur One of several kinds of purple larkspur found blooming in March & April.

Fairy Lantern A shade loving plant common in the foothills, part of the lily family.

Wild Iris Has grass-like leaves and delicate yellow or purple flowers.

Silver Bush Lupine Common on the sunny, rocky slopes above the South Yuba River.

Tufted California Poppies More commonly found in Bridgeport than are California Poppies.

PLANTS FOUND ALONG THE KNEEBONE BEACH TRAIL (SOUTH YUBA RIVER STATE PARK) (Shady side of the river)

Indian Pink A sticky secretion is found on the upper part of the stem which traps small insects.

Star Tulip

Snowdrop Bush (or Styrax). Flowers in mid-May and attracts hundreds of butterflies.

California Pipevine - The oddly shaped, greenish flowers are pollinated by fungus gnats and appear in February before the heart-shaped leaves.

PLANTS FOUND NEAR HIGHWAY 49 CROSSING, SOUTH YUBA RIVER

Bush Monkey Look for the buff-to-orange colored blossoms of this shrub on sunny rocks and canyon walls starting mid-spring

California Poppies Covers the hillsides near the Bridgeport rest area.

PLANTS FOUND NEAR BRIDGEPORT TRAILS (SOUTH YUBA RIVER STATE PARK)

Woolly Sunflower So named because the stems and leaves are covered with white woolly hairs.

Fiddleneck The name refers to the coiled flower head which resembles the neck of a fiddle. The plant is toxic to livestock resulting in the second common name of Ranchers Fireweed. The plant hairs may be irritating to human skin.

Redbud Flowers appear before the leaves from late Winter through Spring. They are replaced by long seed pods which remain through the following winter.

Caterpillar Phacelia Name comes from the hairs covering the plant and the tightly coiled dirty white flowers. it blooms in early spring.

Wally Basket Tall spear-like stems, used by Native Americans in temporary baskets; bulb prized for its nutty flavor.

Pretty Face Native Americans gathered bulbs in large quantities with digging sticks. They were eaten raw, fried, boiled or roasted.

Bilobed Clarkia Blooms after the grasses have turned brown and other wildflowers have gone to seed. Flowers have four petals of various shapes and are usually in shades of pink and purple.

Birds Eye Gilia Colorful flower grows in foothill grasslands. Bowl-shaped flowers are violet with a yellow throat having purple spots. Colors quickly fade in spring sunlight.