Wildflowers in the Finger Lakes
The Finger Lakes has hundreds of species of wildflowers, some native, others introduced by the colonists from Europe. A few introduced plants have become invasive weeds that take over an area, preventing native plants from growing. Here are some of the native plants you might see as you travel around the Finger Lakes. You can see them along the roadsides, in state parks and forests, in fields and growing in public gardens. You may want to purchase one of the excellent field guides available from the Amazon bookstore at the bottom of this page.
Botanical name:
Aquilegia canadensis
Common name:
Columbine
Habitat:
Dry areas like roadsides and rocky slopes along creeks
Photo taken:
Lake Treman
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Botanical name:
Asclepias tuberosa
Common name:
Butterflyweed
Habitat:
Dry fields and roadsides
Photo taken:
Mendon Ponds Park
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Botanical name:
Caltha palustris
Common name:
Marsh marigold
Habitat:
Moist areas, bogs, wetlands
Photo taken:
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Botanical name:
Cypripedium acaule
Common name:
Pink lady's-slipper
Habitat:
Moist, acidic woods
Photo taken:
Two Rivers State Park
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Botanical name:
Gaultheria procumbens
Common name:
Wintergreen
Habitat:
Moist woods. Flowers are small, white bells.
Photo taken:
Two Rivers State Park
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Botanical name:
Lobelia cardinalis
Common name:
Cardinal flower
Habitat:
Moist areas at the edge of ponds and marshes
Photo taken:
Chicago Bog at Lime Hollow Nature Center
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Botanical name:
Maianthemum canadense
Common name:
Canada mayflower
Habitat:
Moist woods
Photo taken:
Watkins Glen State Park
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Botanical name:
Nymphaea odorata
Common name:
Fragrant waterlily
Habitat:
Ponds and small lakes
Photo taken:
Sanford Lake
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Botanical name:
Phytolacca americana
Common name:
Pokeweed
Habitat:
Edges of damp upland woods, roadsides, and old pastures
Photo taken:
Erie Canal trail (Wayne County)
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Botanical name:
Potentilla anserina
Common name:
Silverweed
Habitat:
Sandy or gravelly shores
Photo taken:
Onondaga Lake
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Botanical name:
Rosa setigera
Common name:
Prairie rose
Habitat:
Shrub, usually found in open areas where the ground is fairly moist.
Photo taken:
Hamlin Beach State Park
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Botanical name:
Rubus odoratus
Common name:
Flowering raspberry
Habitat:
Shrub, usually found in open areas where the ground is fairly moist.
Photo taken:
Chimney Bluffs State Park
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Botanical name:
Typha latifolia
Common name:
Common cattail
Habitat:
Ponds and marshes
Photo taken:
Jennings Pond. Can also be found around Braddock Bay and at the southern end of some of the Finger Lakes.
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Botanical name:
Uvularia perfoliata
Common name:
Perfoliate bellwort
Habitat:
Moist woods
Photo taken:
Lake Treman
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Created 1 September 2011
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