5 Best Places to Find Wildflowers in Virginia

Virginia, a state on the US’s East Coast, is full of natural beauty from the Appalachian Mountain Range to the Chesapeake Bay. A lot of Virginia is covered in forest, making it a brilliant place to visit in the spring. 

It’s also home to the Blue Ridge Mountains, which are part of the Appalachian range. Close to these mountains is the Shenandoah National Park, which transforms in spring with bursts of vivid flowers.

This is definitely one of the best national parks in the US, as it has countless trails and mesmerizing wildflowers.

But that’s not the only place to spot the wildflowers in Virginia, so let’s explore more locations to find these natural beauties. 

When Can You See Virginia Wildflowers?

The best time to see the wildflowers of Virginia is from late April till the end of May. This is when Virginia is in spring and summer. 

Seeing the flowers of Virginia is a must-do activity on a US road trip across the East Coast.

This is because you can see a rainbow of different-colored flowers, from the Flame Azalea to the Eastern Redbud. 

Best Places to See Virginia’s Native Wildflowers

While you might be excited to find the flowers of Virginia, they might be challenging to spot if you’re unfamiliar with the area.

Don’t worry, as I’ll guide you through the best parks and regions to see the stunning flower fields of Virginia.

1. Shenandoah National Park 

One of the top places to find native Virginia wildflowers is Shenandoah National Park.

This park spreads over 200,000 acres and has plenty of rivers, forests, and hiking trails. This natural abundance is one of the reasons why it’s so easy to find wildflowers here. 

For your best chance to see the wildflowers in full bloom, I recommend visiting Shenandoah sometime from the beginning of March till the end of June.

It has over 850 species of wildflowers, such as bluebells and mountain laurels, making it one of the best national parks to visit in spring.

What’s great about Shenandoah is that you can even see wildflowers while driving. The Skyline Drive is a central road that goes through the park and is often lined with flowers during spring, summer, and even fall.

Top Tip: Grab this self-driving audio tour for an immersive experience of Shenandoah’s wildflowers.

2. Ball’s Bluff Battlefield Regional Park

Just outside the town of Leesburg, in Loudon County, is Ball’s Bluff Battlefield Regional Park.

Its bizarre name comes from the American Civil War, where the Confederate forces managed to drive thousands of Union soldiers into the Potomac, drowning most of them.  

So, besides nature lovers, this park is a fantastic place for history buffs to learn about an early point in American history. This park is a close contender with Shenandoah for its variety of wildflowers. 

You can find all kinds of species, from Virginia’s purple flowers and the Virginia bluebell to the multi-colored trillium.

The best time to spot Virginia native flowers at Ball’s Bluff is in April, as it’s springtime. Some terrific areas to spot wildflowers above the Potomac and along its banks, in the forest, and on its hiking trails.

3. Riverbend Park 

Riverbend Park is along Virginia’s border with Maryland and close to Great Falls, Virginia.

This is a spot renowned for having loads of Virginia bluebells. In fact, it has a hiking trail, which they cover from mid-March until the end of April.

This is the best time to spot flowers native to Virginia. And besides bluebells, you can also see the hilariously-named Dutchman’s breeches, Bloodroot, and Squirrel corn.

Tip: This park is also great for hiking, so you’ll probably want to bring a bag. Check out my post on the best travel daypacks for some fantastic options.

4. Scott’s Run Nature Preserve 

Scott’s Run Nature Preserve is just 20 minutes outside the nation’s capital and along the Potomac River. This is a great spot to find wildflowers, especially if you’re in Washington, DC, and want a fun day outing. 

With its diverse terrain and the abundant Potomac, wildflowers flourish here. You can expect to see trillium and yellow wildflowers of Virginia, such as buttercups and golden alexanders.

The best time to see the native wildflowers of Virginia is from early April until halfway through May.

As Scott’s Run is so close to Washington, DC (only a 30-minute drive), I recommend taking this Mount Vernon and Alexandria Tour to explore Virginia and its history. 

5. Conway Robinson State Forest

Close to Gainesville and Manassas Battlefield National Park is the beautiful and tranquil Conway Robinson State Forest.

What’s great about the forest is it’s well-managed and offers various informational signs.

This forest is the best place to spot the tubular and vibrant great blue lobelia. You can also spot the large-flowered trillium and one of the pink flowers in Virginia; the shaggy blazing star.

It’s best to visit in March, as this is when the lobelia bloom, but don’t worry, most of the flowers remain open until summer. 

Wild Flowers of Virginia

There are so many wildflowers in Virginia, with a massive variety of colors. That said, here are a few of my favorite native flowers of Virginia:

• Kidneyleaf Grass-of-Parnassus — found in wetland areas, a white flower with five petals, in-bloom from July to October 
• Flame Azalea — located in the heart of forests, a stunning orange-colored, funnel-shaped flower, in bloom from May until fall when it sheds.
• Trout Lily — found on the forest floor, a fantastic yellow flower in bloom from March to May 
• Eastern Redbud — found throughout Virginia and Appalachia across forests and small trees with vivid pink flowers, in bloom from late February until April 
• Virginia Bluebell — found in wet woodlands and floodplains, vibrant blue and pink color, in bloom from March till May.

Final Thoughts on Virginia Wild Flowers

Virginia is often overlooked as a spot to visit on the East Coast. However, it’s a region that is incredibly important at the start of US history. Even more, there’s an immense natural beauty, from picturesque forests to flower-filled meadows in Virginia. 

There’s so much to do, from exploring the Luray Canyons to going on a colonial ghost walking tour in Williamsburg.

Well, what are you waiting for? Book an East Coast weekend getaway to Virginia to see these beautiful wildflowers in person.