Jamesia Flower

Jamesia flower is named after Edwin James a botanist who explored the Rocky Mountains in the early 19th century this shrub is most often found growing on rocky slopes canyon walls and dry open woodlands at elevations between 1600 to 3000 meters it usually reaches a height of one to three meters with multiple branching stems covered in reddish brown bark that peels with age the leaves are broadly ovate coarsely toothed and covered with fine hairs giving them a slightly rough texture and a deep green color on the upper surface.

The flowers of Jamesia americana are its most striking feature blooming from late spring to early summer typically May through July the blossoms are arranged in terminal clusters of white to creamy yellow star-shaped flowers each about 2 to 3 centimeters across with five spreading petals they have a strong sweet fragrance that attracts bees butterflies and other pollinators the profusion of flowers creates a showy display against the backdrop of rugged mountain terrain once pollinated the flowers give way to small dry capsules containing numerous seeds which are dispersed by wind the flowers and seed heads combined with the textured leaves make the plant ornamental in appearance although it is more often admired in the wild than in cultivation.