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| Bitterroot Montana State Flower |
I'm starting off this series of Montana wildflowers with our state flower, the bitterroot (lewisia rediviva), so designated in 1895. It prefers gravelly or sandy, well-drained, usually sparsely-vegetated soil and can be found in valleys and mountains. Colors can vary from deep magenta to almost white. Northern Shoshone, Flathead, and Nez Perce harvested the roots before the plant flowered and boiled them to eat. Merriweather Lewis tried the food and disliked the bitter taste, so he gave his share to the Native Americans.
Learn how to create your own images in Photographing Wildflowers from Start to Finish, beginning June 1, 2021, at the Lifelong Learning Center in Missoula, Montana. Click here to register.