Wanderlust World Wanderlust World The Blue Ridge Mountains are part of the ancient Appalachian Mountains, stretching from Alabama to southeastern Canada. The abrupt rise in altitude from the east creates unique plant habitats due to the relationship between elevation and temperature. For every 1000 foot increase in elevation, the temperature decreases 5.5 degrees Fahrenheit. This rapidly changing elevation and temperature provides ideal zones for a variety of forest types.
A mixed, mainly deciduous oak forest dominates the lower elevations of the Blue Ridge consisting of several oaks, sourwood, maples, hickories, yellow birch, yellow buckeye, white ash, locust, American beech and tulip poplars. Widespread conifers include white pines, red spruce and hemlocks. Above 4500 feet, Fraser fir, red spruce and balsam cover the rocky flanks.
The understory layer of the forest features a variety of flowering shrubs, bushes and small trees. Dense thickets of rhododendron display white or pink blooms. Others include flame azaleas, mountain laurel, Carolina silverbells, serviceberry, mountain magnolia, mountain ash and pinxter flowers.
Spring wildflowers are as diverse in color and form as one can imagine. The Blue Ridge boast such rare beauties such as Gray's lily, Oconee bells, Blue Ridge goldenrod, and Heller's blazing star. More common wildflowers are Dutchman's britches, trillium, bloodroot, violet, spring beauty, lady's slippers, bluets, fringed phacelia, trout lily and dwarf crested iris. In late summer, orange-flowered Turk's cap lilies bloom along with black-eyed Susans, Michaux's lily, bee balm, Joe-Pye weed, pink turtlehead, thistle and coneflowers.