Adirondack Bloomers

Some flowers and shrubs to look for in the area

Story by Sandi Fairbanks
Photos by William S. Justice

Ken Adams and Chris Martine spend hours following the stench of skunk cabbage. Lisa Jemison searches the slopes of the hills for little white Dutchman's breeches. Matt Kelting's trained eyes roam the mountainside in a quest to distinguish Labrador tea from its toxic imposter.

These North Country botanical researchers are passionate about their plants. Yet you don't have to be a trained naturalist to appreciate the beauty of Adirondack wildflowers. Not everyone slogs through bogs in search of smelly cabbage plants, but almost everyone can agree that a big field of yellow or pink blossoms can evoke feelings of awe. When hiking in the mountains, do you ever come across a delicate wildflower that you just have to stop and look at?

"Trilliums are one of the most beloved and more diverse groups of wildflowers."

If you have, chances are you've been in the woods between May and early August. "The peak-time for Adirondack wildflowers is mid-June through early August," says Lisa Jemison, an interpretive naturalist at the Wild Center in Tupper Lake. "But many flowers only bloom in May."

The flowers that bloom in May only bloom for a short time. These are known as spring ephemerals and they appear at the first warm days of spring.

"Trilliums are one of the most beloved and more diverse groups of wildflowers," botanist Chris Martine, a professor of biology at Plattsburgh State University College says. "In our region there are about three different species, ranging in flower color from white to pink to reddish-purple. If you take a walk in the moist woods, you would probably see them."

According to Environmental Educator Milton Adams, trilliums can last a couple weeks and each can be seen in different parts of the forests. The white trillium is a woodland flower that grows in deciduous forests. Painted Trillium is also a woodland flower but likes acidic soils under a canopy of pine and hemlock. Purple or red trillium is also a flower that likes acidic soils and has a bad smell. These flowers also have the nickname Stinking Benjamin.

"Trout lily is (another) early spring wildflower of the rich woods," Martine says. "The pretty yellow flowers with recurved petals are one of the first to bloom each year."

The Goldthread flower is one of Jemison's favorite. This flower prefers moist, mossy forests with acidic soils. With its small, single white-star shaped flower with evergreen leaves, it resembles the wild strawberry plant. Goldthreads get their name from their roots, which are gold and thread-like. They tend to bloom in late May to early June.

Jemison also enjoys searching the woods for another favorite bloomer. "Dutchman's breeches is a very cool flower that captures my imagination in terms of what is possible in nature," Jemison says. "They look like tiny pairs of white pants. They grow on northern slopes in undisturbed soil. Seeds are carried away from the plant by ants, who bury them in their nests and protect them, where they are able to grow once again."

Botanists Martine and Ken Adams, professor of environmental science at Plattsburgh, are both are intrigued by an interesting plant called the Skunk Cabbage. It is Martine's favorite wildflower, and both scientists enjoy scouring the bog lands of the North Country for the stinky specimen. Skunk cabbage has the ability to produce heat that melts the frozen ground around it in order to push its inflorescence up through the snow. It is found in swampy areas and has a dark-purple leaf-like hood that houses a stout yellow "flower club." You can take a whiff if you find one.

Botanist Matt Kelting, also a professor of environmental science at Plattsburgh, has taken a liking to the Adirondack shrubs that can also be found in the forests. Two of the most popular shrubs are the Labrador tea plant and Red-stem dogwood.

Labrador tea has leaves that have been used to make tea, they are closely related to the mountain laurel, which is toxic and is not advised to be used for tea. Labrador tea is easy to identify because its leathery evergreen leaves are densely fuzzy underneath. It can be found in boggy habitats in the Adirondacks.

"Dutchman's breeches is a very cool flower that captures my imagination in terms of what is possible in nature."

The red-stem dogwood is a flowering shrub. It has a bright red stem and leaves with creamy white flowers. The red leaves have a form of chlorophyll in them that enables the plant to photosynthesize in low light conditions as well as bright sun. They are used by landscapers to add color. They are also a favorite of deer. They can be found in many places but are most common in or around marshes, swamps, or other wet areas.

These are just a few favorites that can be found in the Adirondacks. You can find more information by going to local wildlife organizations such as The Wild Center in Tupper Lake or the Paul Smiths Interpretive Center in Paul Smiths. Or, for the more adventurous at heart, you can take to the woods yourself in search of your favorite Adirondack bloomers.

"It is fun to wander around in the woods and look for wildflowers."

What is your favorite Adirondack Wildflower or Shrub?