Delaware in bloom

Delaware bloom calendar

Darker = more flowering sightings that month. Based on iNaturalist research-grade observations in Delaware 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 (19): Roses (genus Rosa), Multiflora rose, Mock strawberry, Black cherry, Wineberry, Common ninebark, Downy serviceberry, Beach plum and 11 more
• Asteraceae (14): Common yarrow, White snakeroot, Chicory, Black-eyed Susan, Bull thistle, Common dandelion, Creeping thistle, Late boneset and 6 more
• Fabaceae (10): White clover, Red clover, Eastern redbud, Purple crownvetch, Partridge pea, Common vetch, Persian silk tree, Chinese bushclover and 2 more
• Lamiaceae (8): Common selfheal, Ground-ivy, Red deadnettle, Henbit deadnettle, Lyreleaf sage, Carpet bugle, Beefsteak plant, Russian sage
• Ericaceae (6): Ghost pipe, Striped wintergreen, Mountain laurel, Catawba rhododendron, Japanese andromeda, Satsuki azalea
• Viburnaceae (5): American black elderberry, Mapleleaf viburnum, Japanese snowball viburnum, Arrowwood viburnum, Koreanspice viburnum
• Oleaceae (5): Purple lilac, Border forsythia, Japanese tree lilac, Meyer lilac, Chinese fringetree
• Apocynaceae (4): Common milkweed, Butterfly milkweed, Lesser periwinkle, Swamp milkweed
• Brassicaceae (4): Garlic mustard, Dame's rocket, Cut-leaved toothwort, American searocket
• Caprifoliaceae (4): Amur honeysuckle, Japanese honeysuckle, Weigela, Glossy abelia
• Aquifoliaceae (4): American holly, Winterberry, Inkberry, Japanese holly
• Polygonaceae (4): American jumpseed, Low smartweed, Japanese knotweed, Mile-a-minute weed
• Magnoliaceae (4): Southern magnolia, Sweetbay magnolia, Star magnolia, Saucer magnolia
• Campanulaceae (4): Cardinal flower, Great blue lobelia, Indian tobacco, Clasping Venus's looking glass
• Cornaceae (4): Flowering dogwood, Silky dogwood, Cornelian cherry, Kousa dogwood

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 (8): Eastern redbud, Butterfly milkweed, American trumpet vine, Mountain laurel, Purple crownvetch, Mapleleaf viburnum, Common ninebark, Beach plum
• High moisture use (suits wet spots) (21): Chicory, Jack-in-the-pulpit, Eastern skunk cabbage, Buttonbush, Virginia bluebells, Pickerelweed, Swamp milkweed, Common vetch, Carpet bugle, Southern magnolia, Winterberry, Swamp rose mallow and 9 more
• Rapid growth rate (20): American pokeweed, Common selfheal, Red clover, Chicory, Japanese honeysuckle, Black-eyed Susan, American trumpet vine, Common dandelion, Dame's rocket, American black elderberry, Black cherry, Partridge pea and 8 more

How we picked these flowers

We started from iNaturalist's research-grade sightings in Delaware, 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 Delaware's official flowers, plus flowering shrubs and trees with at least 3 garden or 10 wild iNaturalist records in Delaware and popular garden flowers that iNaturalist users record growing in Delaware. Every flower needs a CC0 or CC BY photo.

Rare plant list: Rare and Uncommon Plants of Delaware (DNREC, 2024; informational, Delaware has no state plant-protection list)
Invasive plant list: Delaware Invasive Plant List (3 Del. Admin. Code § 806-3.0)