Varieties of Indigenous Flowers in Idaho
Idaho is known for its mountains and meadows that are covered with beautiful flowers such as the buttercups and violets. The state’s forest grows different varieties of numerous orchids as well. Varieties of indigenous flowers Idaho range from water-loving types and plants that are extremely drought tolerant. This existence of such indigenous flowering plants is due to Idaho’s widely varied climate.
The Philadelphus lewisii or Syringa which is also for its other name as the Mock Orange is the state flower of Idaho. This particular indigenous flower was designated by a legislature made in the year 1931. Syringa is a branching shrub plant with blossoms that are quite similar to those of the Mock Orange flowers. This similarity of features between the two plants earned Syringa to be known by the name of Mock Orange as well.
Syringa scientifically recognized as the Philadelphus lewisii is made up of four petals that are usually in shades of cream. Indigenous flowers of Syringa plants grow at the tip of its short leafy branches. This deciduous flowering shrub gives best result and grows abundantly in well-drained soil, making Syringa Idaho’s moderately drought-tolerant type of plant.
Aside from Syringa, there are other indigenous flowers found in Idaho. Among them is the indigenous Munro globemallow, a salmon-colored flower with five petals that grows best on moderate water under the full sun.
Other moderately drought tolerant plants found in Idaho are the Prairie smoke, Serviceberry and the Long-plumed avens. Prairie smoke is an indigenous mountain meadow plant that bears red-colored flowers that blooms during the summer. Serviceberry is a native plant shrub that blooms white-colored flowers during the spring. This particular plant bears edible blue-colored berries in the summer. Another mountain meadow plant is the Long-plumed avens. Similar to the Prairie smoke, Long-plumed avens bears reddish blooms during the summer season as well.
An example of extremely drought tolerant flowering plant found in Idaho is the Rabbitbrush. This indigenous plant belongs to the Chrysothamnus species under nauseosus variety. It is a nondescript perennial plant that grows in late summer. Rabbitbrush provides display of flowers in shades of yellow attracting butterflies and passerby that comes along its way.
Another plant that belongs to the range of extremely drought tolerant plants is the Bitterbrush. Like the Rabbitbrush, it also bears yellow-colored flowers that provide sweet-smelling scents. Bitterbrush blossoms are flowers of five petals that bloom early in May.
Sulfur buckwheat, a deep-yellow flowering perennial plant with blossoms that bloom in the early summer days are indigenous in the dry areas of Idaho that requires full sun and well-drained ground soil. Other known indigenous plants that are considered extremely drought tolerant types are the Indian ricegrass, Arrowleaf balsamroot, Firewood, Sand lilies, Lupines, Goldenrods and the Blue, Hotrock, and Shrubby penstemon.
Water-loving plants of Idaho are found in areas that are provided with ample irrigation. These types of indigenous flower plants are usually found growing along the springs and mountain streams in Idaho. Some of these water-loving plants are known by the name of Skunk cabbage, Water plantain, Lilies and the purplish-red colored tubular blossoms of the Lewis monkeyflower plant

Idaho grows many types of flowers.  Numerous orchid varieties grow in its forests, and other flowers such as the violets and buttercups cover its mountain meadows.
      Idaho’s climate varies widely.  Similarly varied in their climate preferences, Idaho’s indigenous flowers range in their drought tolerance – from the extremely drought tolerant plants to the water-loving types. 
      The rabbit brush, for one, is an extremely drought tolerant plant, and grows in Idaho’s southern desert areas.  Its yellow flowers come out during late summer or early fall.  Similarly extremely drought tolerant is the Bitterbrush.  It bears sweet-smelling yellow flowers with five petals during the early part of May.  Another plant which is drought tolerant is the Indian ricegrass, a native perennial bunchgrass.  Its flower stalks are attractive, but the plant is relatively short-lived.  The arrowleaf balsamroot is also a drought tolerant indigenous perennial.  It is long-lived, but does not flower until its 4th to 7th year.  Its flowers, which emerge in May, are sunflower-like.  The blue penstemon, another indigenous flower of Idaho is also drought tolerant.  It has large, deep purple tubular flowers that come out in May and June when planted in full sun.  The hotrock penstemon is also drought tolerant plant indigenous to Idaho.  It produces white tubular flowers from May to June.  Another kind of penstemon is the shrubby penstemon which is longer lived than other penstemons, but requires a well-drained soil.  Its flowers are large and may be blue or lavender.  The blooms come out in June and July and is native to the Idaho mountains, in rocky areas.
      The Sulfur buckwheat is also drought tolerant and produces deep yellow flowers in early summer.  However, they require good soil drainage and full sun.  Other common flowering plants in Idaho’s dry areas are the fireweed, goldenrod, lupines, sand lilies, and sego lilies.
      Idaho is also home to some flowering shrubs that are moderately drought tolerant.  These include the Serviceberry, a native shrub that blooms with white flowers in spring and bears edible blue fruits in the summer.  There are also those that require only moderate amounts of water like the prairie smoke.  This is a mountain meadow native which bears reddish flowers from early to middle summer.  The long-plumed avens is another mountain meadow requiring moderate amounts of water.  It also bears reddish flowers during the summer.
      Other flowers indigenous to Idaho include the Syringa, Idaho’s state flower, a deciduous shrub with cream colored 4-petaled flowers.   This plant grows best in well-drained soils.  Another is the munro globemallow, which has salmon-colored five-petaled flowers, best planted in full sun and with moderate watering.
      Areas with ample irrigation have the water loving plants such as the water plantain, skunk cabbage, and lilies, abundantly.  Another moisture-loving plant is the Lewis monkeyflower which has large, purplish-red tubular flowers.  They also grow along mountain streams and springs.  The Oregon checkermallow is also not drought tolerant, although it grows best when planted in full sun.  It produces pale lavender spikes of flowers reaching up to three feet.

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