Catalog of Flowering Plants
Near Meeker High School

Compiled by Dr. Dorsett's Botany and Biology Classes
 

Prince's plume, above Meeker High School track.   Bob Dorsett.



Out the car window, you see miles and miles of sagebrush across the dry mesa and canyon country of western Colorado.  Step out for a walk, though, and brilliant spots of color appear.  This country offers a wonderful variety of flowering plants, and the progression of the bloom through the growing season is remarkable; new flowers appear each week from late April through September.  Here are a few found on the ridges and washes just north of Meeker High School.

In the catalog below, flowers are organized by family.  Scientific name is followed by the (common name).  This Web site is a work in progress.  Some flowers remain to be accurately identified, and more photographs remain to be taken. 

Where there is no photograph, click on the name and follow the link to that plant in Southwest Colorado Wildflowers, a marvelous resource produced by Al Schneider.  My other main reference is the USDA Plants Database. 

The Town of Meeker lies in the White River Valley, 6300 feet above sea level.  Climate is dry, winters cold, and vegetation is typical of the Foothills Zone.  Sandstones and shales dominate the geology, with adobe in outwash fans.  If you find any plants not listed here, let me know.  Keep your eyes open, and enjoy the search!


Families
Check out Meeker area Phenology, showing the plants in bloom from month to month during the growing season.

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References:

Fagan, Damian.  1998.  Canyon country wildflowers.  Falcon.

Nelson, Ruth A.  1992.  Handbook of Rocky Mountain plants.  Roberts Rhinehart.

Pesman, Walter M.  1992.  Meet the natives.  Denver Botanical Gardens / Roberts Rhinehart.

Weber, William A. and Ronald C. Wittmann.  1996.  Colorado flora, western slope.  University Press of Colorado.


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page last updated 02/15/2025