Whistler has its beautiful landscapes, clear lakes, and vibrant wildflowers, with the local artists immortalizing its beauty on murals and art installations all over Whistler! A few honourable mentions are Chili Thom, Andrea Mueller, and Isobel MacLaurin, who all drew their inspirations from the surrounding natural ecosystem to create something unique to themselves and to Whistler. These legends are the foundation of Whistler’s art culture, and you can find their art for sale and appreciation at cafes and galleries, or perhaps find Andrea Mueller working on a piece under a tent along the village stroll. With sunshine, a cool breeze, and glacier-fed streams picking up, yes, the valley is finally reawakening! Come the following months, alpine wildflowers will begin to cover hiking trails, golf courses, and Whistler’s mountains, in an array of colours and appearances!
The time for blooming varies with each season depending on the previous snowfall and the rate at which the snow melts during the spring but generally happens near the end of July until around mid-August, with some lasting to mid-September. As we are seeing an early spring, there is a chance we will get to see Whistler’s wildflowers much sooner! For your next visit, here is a list of Whistler’s Top 5 Wildflowers:
Alpine Fireweeds blooming. Photo by Mike Crane
1. Alpine Fireweed
The Alpine Fireweed (Chamerion Angustifolium) are a tall and flashy wildflower that can grow up to 4 – 6 feet and thrives in open meadows, along streams, and forest edges, making it the perfect flower for Whistler. The names come from its ability to colonize areas that have been burned by fires.
Lupines in a meadow. Photo by Bente Haarstad
2. Lupine
The Lupine (Lupinos) is an icon for Whistler’s flora and is actually a part of the legume family and can grow up to 5ft in height. Lupines come in a variety of colours such as purple, deep blue, red, pink, yellow, and white, and can all be living simultaneously.
Fun Fact: Lupines are invasive to New Zealand!
Yarrow standing proud. Photo by Whistler Reservations
3. Yarrow
The Yarrow (Achillea Millefolium) is easily found around Whistler’s golf courses and grasslands and thrives in open, dry or moist areas commonly found throughout BC. They are short, white or pink with fern-like leaves.
Fun Fact: These little bunches are common for feeding livestock around the world.
A beautiful and bold Indian Paintbrush. Photo by Abby Cooper
4. Indian Paintbrush
The Indian Paintbrush (Castilleja) grows in mid to high elevations and in moist temperatures. As summer turns into fall, the meadows come alive with these bright red perennial plants. These flowers are very common in Whistler and can live up to 20 years!
Bright yellow Buttercups. Photo by Abby Cooper
5. Rocky Mountain Buttercup
The Rocky Mountain Buttercup (Ranunculus Cymbalaria) is commonly found in deep soil and undisturbed grasslands, but their bright yellow petals are easily distinguishable from their surrounding grassy home. You can find Yellow Buttercups all around Whistler.
Fun Fact: Buttercups are so bright, you can put the flower under your chin and their yellow petals will reflect off, giving your chin a glow!
We hope this helps you plan your next adventure in Whistler! Check out our packages for special offers, or contact us for assistance on booking your next vacation.