Minnesota in bloom

Minnesota bloom calendar

Darker = more flowering sightings that month. Based on iNaturalist research-grade observations in Minnesota 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 (24): Common yarrow, White snakeroot, Black-eyed Susan, Bull thistle, Common dandelion, Creeping thistle, New England aster, Cutleaf coneflower and 16 more
• Rosaceae (18): Roses (genus Rosa), Thimbleberry, Black raspberry, Chokecherry, Virginia strawberry, Common ninebark, Downy serviceberry, Black chokeberry and 10 more
• Fabaceae (11): White clover, Red clover, Purple crownvetch, Bird's-foot trefoil, White sweetclover, American hog-peanut, Leadplant, Purple prairie clover and 3 more
• Ranunculaceae (10): Rue anemone, Red columbine, Wood anemone, Marsh marigold, Round-lobed hepatica, Red baneberry, Sharp-lobed hepatica, Canada anemone and 2 more
• Lamiaceae (7): Common selfheal, Ground-ivy, Wild bergamot, Common motherwort, Catnip, Anise hyssop, Russian sage
• Viburnaceae (6): Red-berried elder, Guelder-rose, Japanese snowball viburnum, Nannyberry, Arrowwood viburnum, Koreanspice viburnum
• Caprifoliaceae (5): Common snowberry, Northern bush honeysuckle, Seven-son flower, Weigela, Glossy abelia
• Oleaceae (5): Purple lilac, Border forsythia, Japanese tree lilac, Meyer lilac, Hairy lilac
• Apocynaceae (4): Common milkweed, Butterfly milkweed, Swamp milkweed, Spreading dogbane
• Asparagaceae (3): Solomon's plume (false Solomon's seal), Canada mayflower, Siberian squill
• Brassicaceae (3): Garlic mustard, Dame's rocket, Hoary alyssum
• Ericaceae (3): Ghost pipe, Catawba rhododendron, Satsuki azalea
• Liliaceae (3): Bluebead lily, White fawnlily, Garden tulip
• Campanulaceae (3): Great blue lobelia, Tall bellflower, Creeping bellflower
• Plantaginaceae (3): Butter-and-eggs (common toadflax), Culver's root, Large-flowered beardtongue

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 (11): Butterfly milkweed, Purple crownvetch, White sweetclover, Cutleaf coneflower, Grey-headed coneflower, Common snowberry, Leadplant, Northern bush honeysuckle, Stiff-leaved goldenrod, New Jersey tea, Common ninebark
• High moisture use (suits wet spots) (12): Jack-in-the-pulpit, Fireweed, Wild bergamot, Thimbleberry, Common cowparsnip, Bird's-foot trefoil, Swamp milkweed, Canadian bunchberry, Marsh marigold, Winterberry, Red chokeberry, Bridal veil spirea
• Rapid growth rate (21): Common selfheal, Red clover, Black-eyed Susan, Common dandelion, Dame's rocket, Fireweed, Thimbleberry, Blue phlox, White sweetclover, Black raspberry, Cutleaf coneflower, Common sunflower and 9 more

How we picked these flowers

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

Rare plant list: Minnesota endangered, threatened and special concern plants (Minn. R. 6134.0300)
Invasive plant list: Minnesota Noxious Weed List (Minn. Stat. § 18.79; Minnesota Department of Agriculture, updated January 2026)