Kentucky in bloom

Kentucky bloom calendar

Darker = more flowering sightings that month. Based on iNaturalist research-grade observations in Kentucky 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 (24): Roses (genus Rosa), Multiflora rose, Mock strawberry, Black cherry, Common ninebark, Downy serviceberry, Black chokeberry, Sweet cherry and 16 more
• Asteraceae (12): Common yarrow, White snakeroot, Chicory, Common dandelion, Late boneset, Wingstem, Common sunflower, Frostweed and 4 more
• Lamiaceae (8): Common selfheal, Ground-ivy, Red deadnettle, Henbit deadnettle, Wild bergamot, Lyreleaf sage, Bluebeard, Russian sage
• Fabaceae (7): White clover, Red clover, Eastern redbud, Purple crownvetch, Partridge pea, Chinese bushclover, American yellowwood
• Ericaceae (6): Striped wintergreen, Mountain laurel, Great rhododendron, Catawba rhododendron, Japanese andromeda, Satsuki azalea
• Caprifoliaceae (6): Amur honeysuckle, Japanese honeysuckle, Wild teasel, Seven-son flower, Weigela, Glossy abelia
• Oleaceae (6): Purple lilac, Border forsythia, Japanese tree lilac, Meyer lilac, Chinese fringetree, Hairy lilac
• Aquifoliaceae (5): American holly, Yaupon holly, Winterberry, Inkberry, Japanese holly
• Viburnaceae (5): American black elderberry, Japanese snowball viburnum, Arrowwood viburnum, Koreanspice viburnum, Chinese snowball viburnum
• Ranunculaceae (5): Lesser celandine, Rue anemone, Red columbine, Sharp-lobed hepatica, Dwarf larkspur
• Boraginaceae (5): Virginia bluebells, Wild comfrey, Great waterleaf, Purple phacelia, Miami mist
• Papaveraceae (4): Bloodroot, Dutchman's breeches, Celandine poppy, Yellow corydalis
• Rubiaceae (4): Partridgeberry, Buttonbush, Azure bluet, Gardenia
• Orchidaceae (4): Pink lady's slipper, Crane-fly orchid, Downy rattlesnake plantain, Putty root
• Violaceae (3): Smooth yellow violet, Cream violet, Long-spurred violet

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, Butterfly milkweed, American trumpet vine, Mountain laurel, Purple crownvetch, Yaupon holly, Great rhododendron, New Jersey tea, Common ninebark
• High moisture use (suits wet spots) (15): Chicory, Jack-in-the-pulpit, Buttonbush, Wild bergamot, Virginia bluebells, Southern magnolia, Butterweed, Winterberry, Red buckeye, Inkberry, Purple cress, Red chokeberry and 3 more
• Rapid growth rate (19): American pokeweed, Common selfheal, Red clover, Chicory, Japanese honeysuckle, American trumpet vine, Common dandelion, American black elderberry, Black cherry, Partridge pea, Blue phlox, Common sunflower and 7 more

How we picked these flowers

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

Rare plant list: Kentucky endangered and threatened plant lists (400 KAR 3:040, eff. 2026)
Invasive plant list: Kentucky noxious weeds and invasive plants on state rights-of-way (KRS 176.051; species list from the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet)