Iowa in bloom

Iowa bloom calendar

Darker = more flowering sightings that month. Based on iNaturalist research-grade observations in Iowa 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.

• Asteraceae (20): Common yarrow, White snakeroot, Chicory, Black-eyed Susan, Bull thistle, Common dandelion, Creeping thistle, New England aster and 12 more
• Rosaceae (15): Roses (genus Rosa), Multiflora rose, Black raspberry, Common ninebark, Downy serviceberry, Black chokeberry, Sweet cherry, Flowering quince and 7 more
• Fabaceae (14): White clover, Red clover, Eastern redbud, Purple crownvetch, Bird's-foot trefoil, Partridge pea, White sweetclover, Yellow sweetclover and 6 more
• Lamiaceae (8): Common selfheal, Ground-ivy, Henbit deadnettle, Wild bergamot, American germander, Common motherwort, Catnip, Russian sage
• Viburnaceae (5): American black elderberry, Guelder-rose, Nannyberry, Arrowwood viburnum, Koreanspice viburnum
• Ranunculaceae (5): Rue anemone, Red columbine, Sharp-lobed hepatica, Canada anemone, False rue anemone
• Apiaceae (4): Queen Anne's lace (wild carrot), Poison hemlock, Rattlesnake master, Wild parsnip
• Boraginaceae (4): Virginia bluebells, Virginia waterleaf, Virginia stickseed, Hoary puccoon
• Oleaceae (4): Purple lilac, Border forsythia, Japanese tree lilac, Meyer lilac
• Apocynaceae (3): Common milkweed, Butterfly milkweed, Swamp milkweed
• Brassicaceae (3): Garlic mustard, Dame's rocket, Cut-leaved toothwort
• Caprifoliaceae (3): Amur honeysuckle, Seven-son flower, Weigela
• Solanaceae (3): Carolina horsenettle, Bittersweet nightshade, Long-leaved groundcherry
• Polygonaceae (3): American jumpseed, Low smartweed, Spotted lady's thumb
• Magnoliaceae (3): Southern magnolia, Star magnolia, Saucer magnolia

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 (13): Eastern redbud, Butterfly milkweed, Purple crownvetch, White sweetclover, Cutleaf coneflower, Yellow sweetclover, Common soapwort, Grey-headed coneflower, Foxglove beardtongue, Leadplant, Stiff-leaved goldenrod, New Jersey tea and 1 more
• High moisture use (suits wet spots) (11): Chicory, Jack-in-the-pulpit, Buttonbush, Wild bergamot, Virginia bluebells, Bird's-foot trefoil, Swamp milkweed, American germander, Southern magnolia, Winterberry, Bridal veil spirea
• Rapid growth rate (23): American pokeweed, Common selfheal, Red clover, Chicory, Black-eyed Susan, Common dandelion, Dame's rocket, American black elderberry, Partridge pea, Blue phlox, White sweetclover, Black raspberry and 11 more

How we picked these flowers

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

Rare plant list: Iowa endangered, threatened and special concern plants (Iowa Admin. Code r. 571-77.3)
Invasive plant list: Iowa noxious weeds (Iowa Code § 317.1A)