Maryland in bloom

Maryland bloom calendar

Darker = more flowering sightings that month. Based on iNaturalist research-grade observations in Maryland 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 (26): Roses (genus Rosa), Multiflora rose, Mock strawberry, Black cherry, Wineberry, Common ninebark, Downy serviceberry, Black chokeberry and 18 more
• Asteraceae (15): Common yarrow, White snakeroot, Chicory, Bull thistle, Common dandelion, Creeping thistle, Late boneset, Wingstem and 7 more
• Fabaceae (11): White clover, Red clover, Eastern redbud, Purple crownvetch, Partridge pea, Common vetch, Persian silk tree, Chinese bushclover and 3 more
• Lamiaceae (9): Common selfheal, Ground-ivy, Red deadnettle, Henbit deadnettle, Lyreleaf sage, Carpet bugle, Beefsteak plant, Bluebeard and 1 more
• Viburnaceae (9): American black elderberry, Mapleleaf viburnum, Blackhaw, Japanese snowball viburnum, Nannyberry, Arrowwood viburnum, Laurustinus, Koreanspice viburnum and 1 more
• Ericaceae (7): Ghost pipe, Striped wintergreen, Mountain laurel, Pinxter flower, Catawba rhododendron, Japanese andromeda, Satsuki azalea
• Caprifoliaceae (6): Amur honeysuckle, Japanese honeysuckle, Common snowberry, Seven-son flower, Weigela, Glossy abelia
• Oleaceae (6): Purple lilac, Border forsythia, Japanese tree lilac, Meyer lilac, Sweet olive, Chinese fringetree
• Aquifoliaceae (5): American holly, Yaupon holly, Winterberry, Inkberry, Japanese holly
• Hydrangeaceae (5): Sweet mock orange, Bigleaf hydrangea, Panicle hydrangea, Mountain hydrangea, Slender deutzia
• Apocynaceae (4): Common milkweed, Butterfly milkweed, Lesser periwinkle, Swamp milkweed
• Brassicaceae (4): Garlic mustard, Dame's rocket, Cut-leaved toothwort, Garlic penny-cress
• Rubiaceae (4): Partridgeberry, Buttonbush, Azure bluet, Gardenia
• Polygonaceae (4): American jumpseed, Low smartweed, Japanese knotweed, Mile-a-minute weed
• Ranunculaceae (4): Lesser celandine, Rue anemone, Round-lobed hepatica, Autumn clematis

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 (12): Eastern redbud, Butterfly milkweed, American trumpet vine, Mountain laurel, Purple crownvetch, Mapleleaf viburnum, Yaupon holly, Cutleaf coneflower, Common snowberry, New Jersey tea, Common ninebark, Western redbud
• High moisture use (suits wet spots) (20): 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 8 more
• Rapid growth rate (23): American pokeweed, Common selfheal, Red clover, Chicory, Japanese honeysuckle, American trumpet vine, Common dandelion, Dame's rocket, American black elderberry, Black cherry, Partridge pea, Blue phlox and 11 more

How we picked these flowers

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

Rare plant list: Maryland threatened and endangered plants (COMAR 08.03.08.05, .06 and .08)
Invasive plant list: Maryland Prohibited Invasive Plant List (COMAR 15.06.04.06; MDA, updated July 2026)