The Brilliant Beauty of Orange Wildflowers
Nothing ushers in the warmth of spring quite like fields dotted with orange wildflowers. When these fiery flares of color start appearing along roadsides and trails it’s a sure sign winter has loosened its grip and given way to more cheerful seasons.
Orange wildflowers come in a dazzling diversity of shapes and sizes, from bold and showy to demure and delicate Their vibrant hues lend a cheerful splash of color to landscapes across the country Let’s take a closer look at some of the most popular orange wildflowers found in the United States.
Jewelweed
With its vibrant orange blooms and fun-to-pop seed pods, common jewelweed (Impatiens capensis) brings a playful energy to shady, wet areas. Also called spotted touch-me-not, this annual plant thrives along streambanks and ditches in eastern and central North America. Hummingbirds flock to its nectar-rich flowers.
California Poppy
The state flower of California, the aptly named California poppy (Eschscholzia californica) blankets hillsides and roadsides with its silky orange petals and delicate fringed centers. These poppies thrive in sunny spots with well-drained soils. When temperatures drop or clouds roll in, the flowers close up to conserve resources.
Butterfly Milkweed
A favorite of monarch butterflies, butterfly milkweed (Asclepias tuberosa) produces clusters of vibrant orange flowers atop tall stalks. As a milkweed, it provides food for monarch caterpillars. Dense patches of these wildflowers along migration pathways help sustain monarch populations.
Scarlet Pimpernel
Don’t overlook tiny scarlet pimpernel (Lysimachia arvensis). This low-growing European native has invaded North American meadows and lawns, where its carpet of quick-closing orange blooms earns it the nickname “poor man’s weathervane.”
Bush Monkeyflower
West Coast trails from British Columbia to Baja spotlight orange bush monkeyflower (Diplacus aurantiacus) and its tubular orange blossoms. Hummingbirds adore these nectar-filled flowers. Sticky leaves and stems give the plant its monkeyflower moniker.
Western Wallflower
From foothills to prairies, western wallflower’s (Erysimum capitatum) four-petaled blooms in sunset shades of orange, red, and yellow herald warmer weather across western North America. This poppy relative thrives on sunny, dry slopes.
Orange Hawkweed
Originally from Europe, the aptly named orange hawkweed (Hieracium aurantiacum) has escaped cultivation to spread across North American fields, meadows, and roadsides. Look for clusters of dark orange flowers topping leafless stems.
Globe Mallow
One of the first wildflowers to bloom on the prairies, scarlet globe mallow (Sphaeralcea coccinea) brightens grasslands and hillsides across central and western North America with its cup-shaped orange blooms. Its delicate, maple-like leaves evoke cooler seasons still to come.
Wood Lily
Striking star-shaped orange blooms with dark spots decorate fields and open woodlands when wood lily (Lilium philadelphicum) flowers in late spring and early summer. Range maps show this popular wildflower species across eastern and central North America.
Columbia Lily
Out West, Columbia lily (Lilium columbianum) lights up mountain meadows and forest openings with clusters of bright orange blooms. Petals reflex backward as the blossoms dangle from upright stems, providing a unique look.
Tiger Lily
Though native to Asia, tiger lily (Lilium lancifolium) has naturalized across much of North America. Look for its big, spotted orange flowers lighting up roadsides and fields in mid to late summer. Hummingbirds visit, but tiger lily is toxic to cats.
Daylily
Escapee daylily (Hemerocallis fulva) draws the eye with its huge orange flowers and strappy leaves. Each blossom only lasts a day. This Asian native has spread from coast to coast, granting roadsides and meadows a tropical flair.
By spotlighting some of the most popular orange wildflowers, this overview provides just a glimpse of nature’s creativity on display each spring and summer across the diverse landscapes of North America. Exploring parks, prairies, mountains and backyards unveils many more bright orange blooms waiting to be discovered and enjoyed in all their glory.
Orange Flowering Perennials
As blue flowers call to mind early spring and summer, oranges flower call to mind summer and fall, even if they also bloom in spring! Whenever the bloom orange perennials are an eye-catching must-have for any garden. Here are four of them:
Given its name, because its petals curl back in a way that makes the flowerhead look somewhat like a turban, the Turk’s cap lily grows from a bulb and is native to the eastern United States. It grows best in hardiness zones 5 t 8 and grows from 4 to 7 feet tall. This makes it a great addition to the middle to the upper story of an herbaceous border.
The Turk’s cap lily blooms in July, and its orange petals bear maroon spots while the leaves are long, lance-shaped, and grow in whorls. It thrives in medium to wet soil in full sun to part shade and is also excellent for a rain garden. It’s best to plant the bulbs in the fall 5 to 6 inches deep.
Lainey Wilson – Wildflowers and Wild Horses (Official Music Video)
FAQ
What are the orange wild flowers called?
| Botanical Name | Common Name | Color |
|---|---|---|
| Eschscholzia californica | California Poppy | Orange |
| Gaillardia pulchella | Indian Blanket | Red, Yellow |
| Helianthus annuus ‘Autumn Beauty’ | Sunflower ‘Autumn Beauty’ | Orange, Yellow |
| Rudbeckia hirta ‘Marmalade’ | Black Eyed Susan ‘Marmalade’ | Orange |
What are the orange flowers on the side of the road called?
Day lilies are bright orange, 3-4 ft tall flowers with long leaves that were introduced from Asia as garden flowers, but quickly found homes in meadows and along roadsides as well.
What are the orange flowers in spring?
Usher in spring with the dazzling glow of orange-blooming Oriental poppies. Add sizzle to the summer garden with orange zinnias and marigolds. And celebrate the warm colors of fall with container plantings of orange pansies or mums.
What are the orange flowers for pests?
Marigolds
Marigolds are among the popular flowering plants you can plant around your garden. They are also cheap to obtain and boast vibrant orange hues. You can count on them to attract beneficial insects to pollinate your plants and repel harmful pests. Scented varieties of marigolds are natural insect repellents.
What color are wildflowers?
The world is filled with an incredible diversity of flowering plant life that, from season to season, fills nearly every available habitat with color. From baby blues to alluring reds and vibrant yellows, wildflowers represent virtually every color known.
What is an orange wildflower?
This orange wildflower (Tropaeolum majus) also known as Indian cress and is a flowering plant that originates from the Andres in Bolivia. It is an annual plant with disc-shaped leaves and bright orange flowers. This is a very fast-growing plant that can grow to six feet in height.
How do you identify an orange wildflower?
The actual flower is a small green tube protruding from the center. To identify this orange wildflower in the United States, look at its stems and leaves. Small white hairs cover the entire plant except for the blossoms. Which of these orange wildflowers have you seen before in the United States?
What do orange flowers look like?
The flowers are orange, though almost red, reflecting ultraviolet light to increase pollination. Various insects visit this orange wildflower including butterflies and bees. It is often grown as an ornamental plant in gardens with decorative orange flowers. You are likely to see it in wildflower gardens as the orange flowers encourage pollinators.
What are some unique orange flowers?
One of the most unique orange flowers is Cockscomb. They have a comb-like shape with a velvety texture. You can even dry out their flowers, as they’ll maintain their orange color for months.
What are some popular orange flower cultivars?
For genuine orange flowers, try cultivars such as ‘Gloriosa’, ‘Claret’, ‘Evening Sun’, ‘Soraya’, ‘Ring of Fire’, and ‘Vincent’s Choice’. Though these are true annuals, they grow so quickly and reliably that no sunny garden should be without them.