Massachusetts in bloom

Massachusetts bloom calendar

Darker = more flowering sightings that month. Based on iNaturalist research-grade observations in Massachusetts 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 (32): Roses (genus Rosa), Multiflora rose, Black cherry, Black raspberry, White meadowsweet, Sulphur cinquefoil, Rugosa rose, Steeplebush and 24 more
• Asteraceae (14): Common yarrow, White snakeroot, Chicory, Black-eyed Susan, Bull thistle, Common dandelion, Common sunflower, Colt's-foot and 6 more
• Ericaceae (13): Ghost pipe, Striped wintergreen, Mountain laurel, Eastern teaberry (wintergreen), Pinesap, Bearberry, Sheep laurel, Pipsissewa and 5 more
• Fabaceae (8): White clover, Red clover, Purple crownvetch, Bird's-foot trefoil, Rabbitfoot clover, Seaside pea, Eastern wild indigo, American yellowwood
• Viburnaceae (8): American black elderberry, Mapleleaf viburnum, Hobblebush, Japanese snowball viburnum, Nannyberry, Arrowwood viburnum, Koreanspice viburnum, Chinese snowball viburnum
• Oleaceae (7): Purple lilac, Border forsythia, Japanese tree lilac, Meyer lilac, Sweet olive, Chinese fringetree, Hairy lilac
• Apocynaceae (6): Common milkweed, Butterfly milkweed, Lesser periwinkle, Swamp milkweed, Spreading dogbane, Black swallow-wort
• Lamiaceae (6): Common selfheal, Ground-ivy, Red deadnettle, Carpet bugle, Bluebeard, Russian sage
• Ranunculaceae (5): Lesser celandine, Red columbine, Wood anemone, Marsh marigold, Threeleaf goldthread
• Hydrangeaceae (5): Sweet mock orange, Bigleaf hydrangea, Panicle hydrangea, Mountain hydrangea, Slender deutzia
• Caprifoliaceae (4): Common snowberry, Seven-son flower, Weigela, Glossy abelia
• Rubiaceae (4): Partridgeberry, Buttonbush, Azure bluet, Gardenia
• Aquifoliaceae (4): American holly, Winterberry, Inkberry, Japanese holly
• Asparagaceae (3): Solomon's plume (false Solomon's seal), Canada mayflower, Lily of the valley
• Liliaceae (3): Yellow trout lily, Cucumber root, Garden tulip

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): Butterfly milkweed, Mountain laurel, Purple crownvetch, Mapleleaf viburnum, Eastern teaberry (wintergreen), Common soapwort, Rugosa rose, Bearberry, Common snowberry, New Jersey tea, Common ninebark, Eastern wild indigo and 1 more
• High moisture use (suits wet spots) (18): Chicory, Jack-in-the-pulpit, Eastern skunk cabbage, Buttonbush, Pickerelweed, Bird's-foot trefoil, Swamp milkweed, Marsh marigold, Carpet bugle, Southern magnolia, Winterberry, Red buckeye and 6 more
• Rapid growth rate (17): American pokeweed, Common selfheal, Red clover, Chicory, Black-eyed Susan, Common dandelion, Dame's rocket, American black elderberry, Black cherry, Black raspberry, Common sunflower, Carpet bugle and 5 more

How we picked these flowers

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

Rare plant list: Massachusetts Endangered Species Act list (321 CMR 10.90)
Invasive plant list: Massachusetts Prohibited Plant List (MDAR)