New Jersey in bloom

New Jersey bloom calendar

Darker = more flowering sightings that month. Based on iNaturalist research-grade observations in New Jersey 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 (30): Roses (genus Rosa), Multiflora rose, Mock strawberry, Black cherry, Wineberry, Black raspberry, Rugosa rose, Dwarf cinquefoil and 22 more
• Asteraceae (12): Common yarrow, White snakeroot, Chicory, Black-eyed Susan, Bull thistle, Common dandelion, Creeping thistle, Late boneset and 4 more
• Ericaceae (10): Ghost pipe, Striped wintergreen, Mountain laurel, Eastern teaberry (wintergreen), Sheep laurel, American wintergreen, Large cranberry, Catawba rhododendron and 2 more
• Lamiaceae (8): Common selfheal, Ground-ivy, Red deadnettle, Henbit deadnettle, Wild bergamot, Carpet bugle, Bluebeard, Russian sage
• Viburnaceae (8): American black elderberry, Mapleleaf viburnum, Blackhaw, Japanese snowball viburnum, Nannyberry, Arrowwood viburnum, Laurustinus, Koreanspice viburnum
• Fabaceae (7): White clover, Red clover, Purple crownvetch, Bird's-foot trefoil, Persian silk tree, Chinese bushclover, American yellowwood
• 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
• Plantaginaceae (5): Bird's-eye speedwell, Butter-and-eggs (common toadflax), Foxglove beardtongue, Heath speedwell, Canada toadflax
• Hydrangeaceae (5): Sweet mock orange, Bigleaf hydrangea, Panicle hydrangea, Mountain hydrangea, Slender deutzia
• Apocynaceae (4): Common milkweed, Butterfly milkweed, Lesser periwinkle, Swamp milkweed
• Polygonaceae (4): American jumpseed, Low smartweed, Japanese knotweed, Mile-a-minute weed
• Asparagaceae (3): Solomon's plume (false Solomon's seal), Canada mayflower, Common star-of-Bethlehem
• Brassicaceae (3): Garlic mustard, Dame's rocket, Narrow-leaved bittercress

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): Butterfly milkweed, American trumpet vine, Mountain laurel, Purple crownvetch, Mapleleaf viburnum, Yaupon holly, Eastern teaberry (wintergreen), Rugosa rose, Foxglove beardtongue, Common snowberry, New Jersey tea, Common ninebark
• High moisture use (suits wet spots) (19): Chicory, Jack-in-the-pulpit, Eastern skunk cabbage, Buttonbush, Wild bergamot, Pickerelweed, Bird's-foot trefoil, Swamp milkweed, Carpet bugle, Southern magnolia, Winterberry, Swamp rose mallow and 7 more
• Rapid growth rate (21): American pokeweed, Common selfheal, Red clover, Chicory, Japanese honeysuckle, Black-eyed Susan, American trumpet vine, Common dandelion, Dame's rocket, American black elderberry, Black cherry, Black raspberry and 9 more

How we picked these flowers

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

Rare plant list: New Jersey Endangered Plant Species List (N.J.A.C. 7:5C-5.1)
Invasive plant list: New Jersey prohibited invasive plant species (Invasive Species Management Act; propagation banned from Jan 1, 2027, sale from Jan 1, 2030)