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We Love the Wildflowers at Purgatory Resort

Wildflowers growing at Purgatory Resort

The San Juan Mountains are lovely in the summer, especially during the peak of wildflower season. Colorful blooms paint the slopes with shades of pink, purple, blue, green, orange and red. Wildflower season typically starts late June to early July, and continues all the way into mid-August. Don’t miss your chance to experience this gorgeous time of year! Here are a few of our favorite wildflowers at Purgatory Resort.

Colorado Columbine Aquilegia caerulea

Colorado Columbine
Aquilegia caerulea

The state flower of Colorado, the Columbine is located across the Rocky Mountains in aspen groves, meadows, forests and talus slopes. Fun fact: the colors of the Columbine are found in the Colorado state flag (white, yellow and blue).

Giant Red Indian (Scarlet) Paintbrush Castilleja Miniata

Giant Red Indian (Scarlet) Paintbrush
Castilleja Miniata

Paintbrush flourishes in the high country for a good period of the summer season. So if you missed the first bloom of early summer, you’re still guaranteed to catch a few late season wildflowers. Paintbrush come in a wide variety of colors ranging from pink, orange and yellow to light green or purple.

Fireweed Chamerion (Epilobium) angustifolium

Fireweed 
Chamerion (Epilobium) angustifolium

This beautiful plant is a member of the Evening Primrose family, and blooms in late summer to fall. The pink flowers attract both bees and hummingbirds.

Wild Rose 
Rosa woodsii

Wild Rose (Mountain Rose)
Rosa Woodsii

Wild Roses are common along roadsides, in meadows and dotting hillsides. With a lovely aroma, this large, open shaped pink flower with its bright yellow stamens is definitely one of our favorites. The bushes can grow to several feet wide and flowers from 1 to 3 inches. The Wild Rose is definitely one of our favorite wildflowers at Purgatory.

Orange Sneezeweed Hymenoxys hoopesii is one of many wildflowers at Purgatory Resort

Orange Sneezeweed
Hymenoxys hoopesii

Also called owl’s claws, these yellow flowers are prominent on the mountain and grow in clusters. These wildflowers bloom all the way into September, offering a nice pop of color to the late summer landscape.

Stay in the heart of the San Juan Mountains and enjoy cool alpine temps, stunning views and endless wildflowers. With room to roam, Purgatory Resort is your home base for fun and adventure.

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