Now is the best time to see spring wildflowers in Iowa. Here's what to look for.

Kate Kealey, Des Moines Register

Early spring marks the start of wildflower season in Iowa, but these natural buds are only available for a limited time.

Woodland areas in Iowa are where wildflowers flourish the most as the weather warms, but roadside grasses can also be visible in spring.

Here is everything you need to know about wildflowers in Iowa.

How do spring blooms differ from flowers seen in summer months?

Virginia Bluebells like to grow along streams and rivers. They can be found across Iowa in the spring months.
Virginia Bluebells like to grow along streams and rivers. They can be found across Iowa in the spring months.

The first flowers in early spring are not always the same blooms seen in summer. Ephemerals are short-lived wildflowers that bloom early in the spring, typically in March, and fade away by summer around May.

Exactly when blooming occurs can vary depending on the region of the state. Southern Iowa sees ephemerals earlier than northern Iowa, DNR Ecologist John Pearson said.

"They need warmth to metabolize they can grow," Pearson said. "Cold snaps will either slow them down from starting or finishing their bloom. It depends on how long the cold snap is too."

Where are the best locations to see wildflowers in central Iowa?

While prairie grass can be more rare, wildflowers can be seen in nearly any woodland area in Iowa.

State parks are usually a good spot to see wildflowers and several are available within a 40-minute drive of Des Moines:

  • Margo Frankel Woods State Park, Des Moines

  • Brown's Woods, West Des Moines

  • Ledges State Park, Madrid

  • Lake Ahquabi State Park, Indianola

Where are other areas in the state to see spring wildflowers?

The spring beauty wildflower can be found blooming in many woodland areas across Iowa.
The spring beauty wildflower can be found blooming in many woodland areas across Iowa.

Most regions of Iowa are within the vicinity of a state park with woodland areas to see wildflowers, Pearson said. Here are his main recommendations for anyone outside of the Des Moines area:

  • Stone State Park, Sioux City

  • Palisades-Kepler State Park, Mt. Vernon

  • Yellow River State Forest, Harpers Ferry

  • Shimek State Park, Farmington

  • Waubonsie State Park, Hamburg

What are the most common types of wildflowers to see at these locations?

Spring beauty and Virginia bluebells are the most common and easily identifiable, Pearson said. Spring beauty is pinkish-white with five petals. As their name describes, Virginia bluebells are bell-shaped with six violet-blue petals. Toothworts are also common. They are white or sometimes lavender flowers with four petals similar to a cross shape.

While there are just three common species across Iowa, Pearson said there are countless different species depending on what woodland you visit.

"I'd have to look at a list, there are so many it is hard to memorize them all," Pearson said jokingly.

When you come across any wildflower, don't pick it.

"If everyone picked a flower there would be none left for the people behind," Pearson said. "So we encourage people to appreciate their beauty with their eyes and their cameras. Definitely don't take specimens away, just leave them there for the next person."

Kate Kealey is a general assignment reporter for the Register. Reach her at kkealey@registermedia.com or follow her on Twitter at @Kkealey17.

This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: Iowa's spring wildflowers are in bloom. Where to go to see them.

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