USDA Forest Service Celebrating Wildflowers

Southern Region

pale purple coneflower in a longleaf pine stand on the Winn Ranger District, Kistachie National Forest, Louisiana.
Pale purple coneflower in a longleaf pine stand on the Winn Ranger District, Kistachie National Forest, Louisiana.

From Texas to Virginia to Puerto Rico, 13.5 million acres of public lands across 13 Southeastern state, constitute the Southern Region - offering mountain scenery, wetlands, rainforests, grasslands, lakes and coastal beaches.

Some 50 million people in Region 8 live within 30 minutes of national forest boundaries and enjoy activities in the Region’s 34 national forests. More than 6.6 million people visit the national forests in the Southern Appalachians each year.

The Southern Region is home to the largest and most productive prescribed burning program in the country, treating more than a million acres in 2005. The Caribbean National forest in Puerto Rico is the only tropical rainforest in the national forest system. It is also the most diverse, with 225 native tree species.

Wildflower Viewing Areas for the Southern Region

Viewing Area National Forest or Grassland Region State
Lake Russell Chattahoochee-Oconee Southern Georgia
Sosebee Cove Chattahoochee-Oconee Southern Georgia
Lost Creek Campground Wildflower Trail Cherokee Southern Tennessee
Big Double Day Use Area Daniel Boone Southern Kentucky
Cawood Branch Day Use Area Daniel Boone Southern Kentucky
Flat Rock Trailhead Daniel Boone Southern Kentucky
Rock Bridge Trail Daniel Boone Southern Kentucky
Sheltowee Trace National Recreation Trail at Whittleton Branch Daniel Boone Southern Kentucky
War Fork and Steer Fork at Turkey Foot Daniel Boone Southern Kentucky
Awendaw Savanna Francis Marion and Sumter Southern South Carolina
Francis Marion Wildflower Driving Tour: Conifer Road Loop Francis Marion and Sumter Southern South Carolina
Sewee Shell Mound Interpretive Trail Francis Marion and Sumter Southern South Carolina
Station Cove and Falls Francis Marion and Sumter Southern South Carolina
Back Creek Gorge Wildflower Trail George Washington and Jefferson Southern Virginia
Dense Blazing Star Field George Washington and Jefferson Southern Virginia
Roaring Run Wildflower Trail George Washington and Jefferson Southern Virginia
Cooter’s Bog Kisatchie Southern Louisiana
Keiffer Prairies Kisatchie Southern Louisiana
Middle Branch Bog Kisatchie Southern Louisiana
Fort Henry Trails Land Between The Lakes National Recreation Area Southern Tennessee
Hematite Lake Trail Land Between The Lakes National Recreation Area Southern Kentucky
Black Branch Barrens National Forests and Grasslands in Texas Southern Texas
Boykin Springs National Forests and Grasslands in Texas Southern Texas
Matlock Hills National Forests and Grasslands in Texas Southern Texas
Bartram Botanical Area National Forests in Alabama Southern Alabama
Flint Creek Botanical Area National Forests in Alabama Southern Alabama
Parker Springs Bog National Forests in Alabama Southern Alabama
Juniper Springs National Forests in Florida Southern Florida
Lake Eaton Loop Trail National Forests in Florida Southern Florida
Pat's Island National Forests in Florida Southern Florida
Pine Flatwoods National Forests in Florida Southern Florida
Riverside Island National Forests in Florida Southern Florida
Choctaw Lake Recreation Area Trails National Forests in Mississippi Southern Mississippi
Tuxachanie Trail National Forests in Mississippi Southern Mississippi
Appletree Trail National Forests in North Carolina Southern North Carolina
Flat Laurel Creek Trail National Forests in North Carolina Southern North Carolina
Joyce Kilmer Memorial Forest National Forests in North Carolina Southern North Carolina
Ledbetter Creek Trail National Forests in North Carolina Southern North Carolina
Moore Cove Falls National Forests in North Carolina Southern North Carolina
Paint Fork Road / Jack Branch Trail / River Ridge Loop Trail National Forests in North Carolina Southern North Carolina
Rufus Morgan Trail National Forests in North Carolina Southern North Carolina
Uwharrie River Trail National Forests in North Carolina Southern North Carolina
Wasilik Poplar Trail National Forests in North Carolina Southern North Carolina
Whitewater Falls National Forests in North Carolina Southern North Carolina
Richardson Bottoms Ouachita Southern Arkansas
Talimena Scenic Drive Ouachita Southern Arkansas
Walnut Creek Ouachita Southern Arkansas
Lake Wedington Trail Ozark-St. Francis Southern Arkansas
Mount Magazine Ozark-St. Francis Southern Arkansas
North Sylamore Creek Trail Ozark-St. Francis Southern Arkansas
Wedington Small Game Area Ozark-St. Francis Southern Arkansas

Rare Plant Conservation Success Stories

Wildflower Photographs

bearded grasspink.
Bearded grasspink (Calopogon barbatus). Francis-Marion National Forest. Photo by Richard Porcher.

fairywand.
Fairywand (Chamaelirium luteum). Jefferson National Forest. Photo by T.G. Barnes.

Kentucky lady's slipper.
Kentucky lady's slipper (Cypripedium kentuckiense). National Forests in Texas. Photo by Jason Singhurst, Texas Parks and Wildlife.

Venus fly-trap.
Venus fly-trap (Dionaea muscipula). Croatan National Forest. Photo by Gary Kauffman.

round-leaved sundew.
Round-leaved sundew (Drosera rotundifolia). National Forests in Alabama. Photo by Rhonda Stewart.

wild geranium.
Wild geranium (Geranium maculatum). Ozark-St. Francis National Forests. Photo by T.G. Barnes.

dwarf crested iris.
Dwarf crested iris (Iris cristata). Ouachita National Forest. Photo by T.G. Barnes.

scarlet beebalm.
Scarlet beebalm (Monarda didyma). Daniel Boone National Forest. Photo by T.G. Barnes.

Indian pipes.
Indian pipes (Monotropa uniflora). Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forests. Photo by T.G. Barnes.

purple passion flower.
Purple passion flower (Passiflora incarnata). National Forests in Mississippi. Photo by T.G. Barnes.

bloodroot.
Bloodroot (Sanguinaria canadensis). Uwharrie National Forest. Photo by Gary Kauffman.

yellow trumpets.
Yellow trumpets (Sarracenia alata). Kisatchie National Forest. Photo by Rhonda Stewart.

Indian pink.
Indian pink (Spigelia marilandica). Pisgah National Forest. Photo by T.G. Barnes.

little sweet Betsy.
Little sweet Betsy (Trillium cuneatum). Nantahala National Forest. Photo by Bill Lea.

jeweled wakerobin.
Jeweled wakerobin (Trillium simile). Cherokee National Forest. Photo by Mark Pistrang.

painted trillium.
Painted trillium (Trillium undulatum). George Washington National Forest. Photo by T.G. Barnes.

perfoliate bellwort.
Perfoliate bellwort (Uvularia perfoliata). Land Between the Lakes. Photo by Larry Stritch.

U.S. Forest Service
Rangeland Management
Botany Program
1400 Independence Ave., SW, Mailstop Code: 1103
Washington DC 20250-1103

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Location: http://www.fs.fed.us/wildflowers/regions/southern/index.php
Last modified: June 07, 2012