Each watershed has its specific list of species but none lack in variety or volume of colour.
Early season trips on the Nahanni River show gravel bars covered in yellow dryas. A few weeks later the purple hues of willowherb take over and as we move through the high country we are treated to bright displays. A short hike from the river often presents dozens of species. Accompanied by a guide book from our library (a great resource available on all our expeditions) a keen eye can quickly spot cinque-foil, grass of parnassus and more. Prickly Rose is ubiquitous and as expedition season continues to unfold we are shown the delicate beauty of Arctic poppies and yarrow.
If you are seeking to maximize your chance to see these natural wonders speak with Guest Services and they can help you choose and plan the right expedition.
The following list of flowers is sourced from the excellent Nahanni River resource “Nahanni: The River Guide” by Peter Jowett.
Flowering Plants of the Nahanni
| Scientific Name | Common Name | Colour – When in Flower |
|---|---|---|
| Allium schoenoprasum | Wild Onion | purple, late June to July |
| Smilacina stellata | False Solomon’s Seal | cream, mid-May to mid-June |
| Veratrum eschscholtzii | False Helibore | yellow-green, July to August |
| Zygadenus elegans | White Camas | creamy green, May to August |
| Calypso bulbosa | Venus Slipper | pink, late June to August |
| Corallorhiza trifida | Pale Coralroot | yellow-green, May to June |
| Cypripedium calceolus | Yellow Lady’s Slipper | yellow, mid-June to early July |
| Cypripedium passerinum | Northern Lady’s Slipper | white with purple dots inside, mid-July |
| Habenaria hyperborea | Northern Green Orchid | yellow-green to green with yellow, late June to mid-July |
| Habenaria obtusata | Northern Bog Orchid | greenish white, late June to mid-July |
| Orchis rotundifolia | Round-leaved Orchid | look like angels in purple dotted white robes, mid-June to early July |
| Listera borealis | Northern Tway Blade | yellow-green, July & August |
| Spiranthes romanzoffinana | Lady’s Tresses | white, July & August |
| Chenopodium capitatum | Strawberry Blight | red, July to August |
| Claytonia Ianceolata | Spring Beauty | white to pale pink, late April to late June |
| Silene acaulis | Moss Campion | pink, mid-June to early August |
| Nuphar variegatum | Yellow Pond Lily | yellow, June to July |
| Aconitum delphinifolium | Monkshood | deep blue-purple, late June to July |
| Actea Rubra | Baneberry | white, late May to June |
| Anemone drummondii | Drummond’s Anemone | creamy white, late May to late June |
| Aquilegia brevistyla | Blue Colombine | blue-mauve-purple with white trim, June to July |
| Delphinium glaucum | Tall Larkspur | deep blue-purple, mid-July to mid-August |
| Anemone patens | Prairie Crocus | pale blue to pale purple with yellow centre, late March to mid-May |
| Ranuculus eschscholtzii | Alpine Buttercup | yellow with green centre, late June to early August |
| Ranuculus gmelinii | Yellow Water Crowfoot | yellow, July |
| Papaver keelei | Poppy | yellow to orange, July & August |
| Drosera angelica | Sundew | white, mid-May to mid-July |
| Mitella nuda | Mitrewort | yellow-green stars, late June to mid-May |
| Parnassia fimbriata | Grass-of-Parnassus | white, July & August |
| Saxifraga aizoides | Yellow Mountain Saxifrage | yellow, June to July |
| Saxifraga cernus | Nodding Saxifrage | white, mid-July |
| Saxifraga tricuspidata | Prickly Saxifrage | white, late June & July |
| Amelanchier alnifolia | Saskatoon | white, late May to early July |
| Dryas alaskensis | Yellow Dryad | yellow, June to early July |
| Dryas integrifolia | White Dryad | white, mid-June to early August |
| Dryas punctata | Mountain Avens | white, mid-June to August |
| Frageria virginiana | Strawberry | white with yellow centre, June to July |
| Potentilla fruticosa | Shrubby Cinquefoil | yellow, late June to early September |
| Rosa acicularis | Prickly Rose | pink, purple, or white, late May to early August |
| Rubus acaulis | Cloudberry | white, mid-June |
| Astragalus alpinus | Alpine Vetch | blue, June & July |
| Hedysarum alpinus | Liquorice Root | pale pink, late June to early August |
| Lupinus arcticus | Lupine | blue to lavender, late June to early August |
| Epilobium angustifolium | Fireweed | pink, mid-July to late August |
| Epilobium latifolium | Broad-leaved Willowherb | pink, mid-July to late August |
| Cornus canadensis | Bunchberry | white, late June to early July |
| Pyrola gradifolia | Arctic Wintergreen | pink, July to August |
| Pyrola secunda | One-sided Wintergreen | greenish white, mid-July to early August |
| Kalmia polifolia | Bog Laurel | pink, late June to July |
| Phyllodoce empetrifolium | Pink Heather | pink, July & August |
| Rhododendron lapponicum | Lapland Rose Bay | purple to pink, July to August |
| Androsace chamaejasme | Rock Jasmine | white, mid-May to early July |
| Mertensia paniculata | Bluebell | blue, late June to mid-July |
| Myosotis alpestris | Forget-me-not | blue, July |
| Castilleja miniata | Indian Paintbrush | red, yellow and white, June to late July |
| Veronica wormskjoldii | Alpine Speedwell | dark blue, July |
| Linnaea borealis | Twinflower | white to pale pink, late June to late July |
| Campanula lasiocarpa | Alpine Harebell | blue, July & August |
| Lobelia kalmii | Lobelia | blue to purple, mid-July to early August |
