Missouri in bloom

Missouri bloom calendar

Darker = more flowering sightings that month. Based on iNaturalist research-grade observations in Missouri 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 (22): Roses (genus Rosa), Multiflora rose, Mock strawberry, Common ninebark, Downy serviceberry, Black chokeberry, Sweet cherry, Red chokeberry and 14 more
• Asteraceae (18): Common yarrow, White snakeroot, Chicory, Black-eyed Susan, Common dandelion, Late boneset, Wingstem, Common sunflower and 10 more
• Fabaceae (13): White clover, Red clover, Eastern redbud, Purple crownvetch, Partridge pea, Chinese bushclover, Hop trefoil, Leadplant and 5 more
• Lamiaceae (10): Common selfheal, Ground-ivy, Red deadnettle, Henbit deadnettle, Wild bergamot, American germander, Beefsteak plant, Downy pagoda plant and 2 more
• Oleaceae (6): Purple lilac, Border forsythia, Japanese tree lilac, Meyer lilac, Sweet olive, Chinese fringetree
• Caprifoliaceae (5): Amur honeysuckle, Japanese honeysuckle, Seven-son flower, Weigela, Glossy abelia
• Aquifoliaceae (5): American holly, Yaupon holly, Winterberry, Inkberry, Japanese holly
• Viburnaceae (5): American black elderberry, Japanese snowball viburnum, Nannyberry, Arrowwood viburnum, Koreanspice viburnum
• Apocynaceae (4): Common milkweed, Butterfly milkweed, Honey-vine climbing milkweed, Purple milkweed
• Ranunculaceae (4): Rue anemone, Red columbine, False rue anemone, Dwarf larkspur
• Hydrangeaceae (4): Sweet mock orange, Bigleaf hydrangea, Panicle hydrangea, Slender deutzia
• Apiaceae (3): Queen Anne's lace (wild carrot), Poison hemlock, Rattlesnake master
• Ericaceae (3): Catawba rhododendron, Japanese andromeda, Satsuki azalea
• Magnoliaceae (3): Southern magnolia, Star magnolia, Saucer magnolia
• Boraginaceae (3): Virginia bluebells, Wild comfrey, Hoary puccoon

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): Eastern redbud, Butterfly milkweed, American trumpet vine, Purple crownvetch, Yaupon holly, Grey-headed coneflower, Foxglove beardtongue, Leadplant, New Jersey tea, Common ninebark, Western redbud
• High moisture use (suits wet spots) (16): Chicory, Jack-in-the-pulpit, Buttonbush, Wild bergamot, Virginia bluebells, American germander, Southern magnolia, Butterweed, Winterberry, Red buckeye, Inkberry, Red chokeberry and 4 more
• Rapid growth rate (21): American pokeweed, Common selfheal, Red clover, Chicory, Japanese honeysuckle, Black-eyed Susan, American trumpet vine, Common dandelion, American black elderberry, Partridge pea, Blue phlox, Common sunflower and 9 more

How we picked these flowers

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

Rare plant list: Missouri Wildlife Code endangered species (3 CSR 10-4.111), plants
Invasive plant list: Missouri noxious weed list (2 CSR 70-45.005)