Nebraska in bloom

Nebraska bloom calendar

Darker = more flowering sightings that month. Based on iNaturalist research-grade observations in Nebraska 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 (19): Roses (genus Rosa), Mock strawberry, Black raspberry, Chokecherry, Common ninebark, American plum, Downy serviceberry, Black chokeberry and 11 more
• Asteraceae (19): Common yarrow, White snakeroot, Chicory, Black-eyed Susan, Creeping thistle, Upright prairie coneflower, Wingstem, Common sunflower and 11 more
• Fabaceae (17): White clover, Red clover, Eastern redbud, Purple crownvetch, Bird's-foot trefoil, Partridge pea, White sweetclover, Hairy vetch and 9 more
• Lamiaceae (9): Ground-ivy, Henbit deadnettle, Wild bergamot, American germander, Common motherwort, Catnip, Giant blue sage, Bluebeard and 1 more
• Viburnaceae (5): American black elderberry, Nannyberry, Arrowwood viburnum, Laurustinus, Koreanspice viburnum
• Malvaceae (5): Velvetleaf, Scarlet globemallow, Winecup mallow, Flower-of-an-hour, Tropical hibiscus
• Apocynaceae (4): Common milkweed, Swamp milkweed, Showy milkweed, Honey-vine climbing milkweed
• Caprifoliaceae (4): Amur honeysuckle, Common snowberry, Seven-son flower, Weigela
• Solanaceae (4): Carolina horsenettle, Buffalo-bur, Eastern black nightshade, Long-leaved groundcherry
• Cactaceae (4): Plains pricklypear, Spinystar, Prairie pricklypear, Brittle pricklypear
• Boraginaceae (4): Virginia waterleaf, Narrowleaf puccoon, Hairy puccoon, Aunt lucy
• Oleaceae (4): Purple lilac, Border forsythia, Japanese tree lilac, Meyer lilac
• Onagraceae (3): Scarlet beeblossom, Yellow sundrops, Fourpoint evening primrose
• Cornaceae (3): Roughleaf dogwood, Cornelian cherry, Kousa dogwood
• Plantaginaceae (3): Large-flowered beardtongue, White-flower beardtongue, Broadbeard 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 (17): Eastern redbud, Purple crownvetch, White sweetclover, Yellow sweetclover, Plains pricklypear, Grey-headed coneflower, Yellow salsify, Common snowberry, Leadplant, Dotted gayfeather, Great Plains yucca, Scarlet globemallow and 5 more
• High moisture use (suits wet spots) (8): Chicory, Wild bergamot, Bird's-foot trefoil, Swamp milkweed, American germander, Wild licorice, Red chokeberry, Bridal veil spirea
• Rapid growth rate (27): American pokeweed, Red clover, Chicory, Black-eyed Susan, Dame's rocket, American black elderberry, Partridge pea, Blue phlox, White sweetclover, Black raspberry, Hairy vetch, Yellow sweetclover and 15 more

How we picked these flowers

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

Rare plant list: Nebraska threatened and endangered species (163 Neb. Admin. Code ch. 4, § 004)
Invasive plant list: Nebraska noxious weeds (25 Neb. Admin. Code ch. 10, § 001.02)