CU Boulder’s Sam Ahler Highlights 500 Aster Species in Colorado Wildflowers
Updated
Updated · University of Colorado Boulder · Jun 29
CU Boulder’s Sam Ahler Highlights 500 Aster Species in Colorado Wildflowers
1 articles · Updated · University of Colorado Boulder · Jun 29
Summary
Colorado’s wildflower season peaks for just six to eight weeks from late June to August, and Ahler says that compressed window helps make the state’s blooms unusually concentrated and distinctive.
500-plus aster species, about 360 grass species and more than 60 penstemon species illustrate the state’s exceptional plant diversity, shaped by Colorado’s steep plains-to-mountains gradient.
2026 is expected to be a weaker wildflower year because below-average autumn and winter precipitation left plants short of the water that drives summer flowering, especially in the mountains.
Wildflowers support pollinators, fungi, seed dispersal and human uses including food and medicine, and Ahler warns that disrupted blooms can ripple through entire ecosystems.
Native planting is one practical response: Ahler urges residents to choose Colorado-adapted wildflowers over imported cultivars to better support local pollinators and resilience.