Maine in bloom

Maine bloom calendar

Darker = more flowering sightings that month. Based on iNaturalist research-grade observations in Maine 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, Black cherry, Chokecherry, White meadowsweet, Virginia strawberry, Rugosa rose, Steeplebush and 16 more
• Asteraceae (16): Common yarrow, Chicory, Black-eyed Susan, Bull thistle, Creeping thistle, New England aster, Common sunflower, Colt's-foot and 8 more
• Ericaceae (15): Ghost pipe, Eastern teaberry (wintergreen), Pinesap, Trailing arbutus (mayflower), Sheep laurel, Lingonberry, Black huckleberry, Large cranberry and 7 more
• Fabaceae (8): White clover, Red clover, Purple crownvetch, Bird's-foot trefoil, Rabbitfoot clover, Seaside pea, Lupine (large-leaved lupine), American yellowwood
• Viburnaceae (8): Red-berried elder, Mapleleaf viburnum, Hobblebush, Japanese snowball viburnum, Nannyberry, Northern wild raisin, Arrowwood viburnum, Koreanspice viburnum
• Caprifoliaceae (6): Common snowberry, Twinflower, Northern bush honeysuckle, Common valerian, Seven-son flower, Weigela
• Liliaceae (5): Yellow trout lily, Cucumber root, Bluebead lily, Wood lily, Garden tulip
• Plantaginaceae (4): Butter-and-eggs (common toadflax), White turtlehead, Heath speedwell, Canada toadflax
• Oleaceae (4): Purple lilac, Border forsythia, Japanese tree lilac, Meyer lilac
• Hydrangeaceae (4): Sweet mock orange, Bigleaf hydrangea, Panicle hydrangea, Mountain hydrangea
• Aquifoliaceae (3): American holly, Winterberry, Inkberry
• Ranunculaceae (3): Wood anemone, Threeleaf goldthread, Tall meadow-rue
• Orchidaceae (3): Pink lady's slipper, Broad-leaved helleborine, Rose pogonia
• Cornaceae (3): Canadian bunchberry, Cornelian cherry, Kousa dogwood
• Primulaceae (3): Northern starflower, Whorled loosestrife, Swamp candles

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): Purple crownvetch, Mapleleaf viburnum, Eastern teaberry (wintergreen), Rugosa rose, Common snowberry, Northern bush honeysuckle, New Jersey tea, Common ninebark
• High moisture use (suits wet spots) (14): Chicory, Jack-in-the-pulpit, Eastern skunk cabbage, Fireweed, Pickerelweed, Bird's-foot trefoil, Canadian bunchberry, Winterberry, Inkberry, Carolina sea lavender, Rhodora, Red chokeberry and 2 more
• Rapid growth rate (15): Common selfheal, Red clover, Chicory, Black-eyed Susan, Dame's rocket, Black cherry, Fireweed, Common sunflower, Chokecherry, Pearly everlasting, Northern catalpa, Fire cherry and 3 more

How we picked these flowers

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

Rare plant list: Maine Rare Plant List (Maine Natural Areas Program, 2021). E and T are Maine's official endangered and threatened plants (12 M.R.S.); SC and PE are tracking categories
Invasive plant list: Maine Do Not Sell invasive plant list (01-001 C.M.R. ch. 273)