Alabama in bloom

Alabama bloom calendar

Darker = more flowering sightings that month. Based on iNaturalist research-grade observations in Alabama marked “Flowering,” as of October 17–23, 2026. Garden flowers have few records because research-grade data leaves out planted ones.

Families on this list

The plant families with the most flowers on this list, from iNaturalist taxonomy. Within each family, the most-observed flowers come first.

• Rosaceae (18): Roses (genus Rosa), Mock strawberry, Black cherry, Southern dewberry, Carolina laurelcherry, Common ninebark, Downy serviceberry, Black chokeberry and 10 more
• Asteraceae (16): Black-eyed Susan, White beggarticks, Late boneset, Common sunflower, Frostweed, Philadelphia fleabane, Bristle thistle, Butterweed and 8 more
• Fabaceae (12): White clover, Red clover, Eastern redbud, Partridge pea, Common vetch, Persian silk tree, Chinese bushclover, Hop trefoil and 4 more
• Lamiaceae (8): Common selfheal, Red deadnettle, American beautyberry, Henbit deadnettle, Lyreleaf sage, Beefsteak plant, False rosemary, Russian sage
• Ericaceae (7): Striped wintergreen, Mountain laurel, Sourwood, Sparkleberry, Catawba rhododendron, Japanese andromeda, Satsuki azalea
• Rubiaceae (6): Partridgeberry, Buttonbush, Azure bluet, Field madder, Tiny bluet, Gardenia
• Viburnaceae (6): American black elderberry, Japanese snowball viburnum, Arrowwood viburnum, Laurustinus, Koreanspice viburnum, Chinese snowball viburnum
• Aquifoliaceae (5): American holly, Yaupon holly, Winterberry, Inkberry, Japanese holly
• Magnoliaceae (5): Southern magnolia, Sweetbay magnolia, Banana shrub, Star magnolia, Saucer magnolia
• Oleaceae (5): White fringetree, Purple lilac, Border forsythia, Sweet olive, Chinese fringetree
• Berberidaceae (3): Mayapple, Heavenly bamboo, Leatherleaf mahonia
• Convolvulaceae (3): Wild potato vine, Beach morning-glory, Hairy cluster-vine
• Amaryllidaceae (3): Crowpoison, Red spider lily, Daffodil
• Hydrangeaceae (3): Sweet mock orange, Bigleaf hydrangea, Panicle hydrangea

Shortlists by growing conditions

Flowers on this list whose USDA PLANTS characteristics data gives the rating shown. USDA only rates some species, so these lists are not complete.

• High drought tolerance (9): Eastern redbud, American beautyberry, Butterfly milkweed, American trumpet vine, Mountain laurel, Yaupon holly, Chinaberry, New Jersey tea, Common ninebark
• High moisture use (suits wet spots) (16): American beautyberry, Buttonbush, Common vetch, Heavenly bamboo, Southern magnolia, Butterweed, Winterberry, Red buckeye, Inkberry, Sweetbay magnolia, White fringetree, Virginia sweetspire and 4 more
• Rapid growth rate (20): American pokeweed, Common selfheal, Red clover, Japanese honeysuckle, Black-eyed Susan, American trumpet vine, American black elderberry, Black cherry, Partridge pea, Blue phlox, Common vetch, Persian silk tree and 8 more

How we picked these flowers

We started from iNaturalist's research-grade sightings in Alabama, most-observed first, left out grasses, sedges, trees and other plants with tiny or wind-pollinated flowers (plus poison ivy), kept at most three species per genus, and added Alabama's official flowers, plus flowering shrubs and trees with at least 3 garden or 10 wild iNaturalist records in Alabama and popular garden flowers that iNaturalist users record growing in Alabama. Every flower needs a CC0 or CC BY photo.

Rare plant list: Alabama has no state law listing endangered or threatened plants, so we show NatureServe's Alabama ranks instead.
Invasive plant list: Alabama noxious weeds (Ala. Admin. Code r. 80-10-14-.04)