Ohio in bloom

Ohio bloom calendar

Darker = more flowering sightings that month. Based on iNaturalist research-grade observations in Ohio 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 (29): Roses (genus Rosa), Multiflora rose, Mock strawberry, Black cherry, Black raspberry, Climbing prairie rose, Common ninebark, Downy serviceberry and 21 more
• Asteraceae (19): Common yarrow, White snakeroot, Chicory, Black-eyed Susan, Bull thistle, Common dandelion, Creeping thistle, Late boneset and 11 more
• Caprifoliaceae (8): Amur honeysuckle, Japanese honeysuckle, Wild teasel, Common snowberry, Cutleaf teasel, Seven-son flower, Weigela, Glossy abelia
• Viburnaceae (8): American black elderberry, Mapleleaf viburnum, Japanese snowball viburnum, Nannyberry, Arrowwood viburnum, Laurustinus, Koreanspice viburnum, Chinese snowball viburnum
• Fabaceae (7): White clover, Red clover, Eastern redbud, Purple crownvetch, Bird's-foot trefoil, Partridge pea, American yellowwood
• Lamiaceae (7): Common selfheal, Ground-ivy, Red deadnettle, Wild bergamot, Carpet bugle, Bluebeard, Russian sage
• Ranunculaceae (6): Lesser celandine, Rue anemone, Red columbine, White baneberry, Sharp-lobed hepatica, Dwarf larkspur
• Oleaceae (6): Purple lilac, Border forsythia, Japanese tree lilac, Meyer lilac, Sweet olive, Chinese fringetree
• Ericaceae (5): Ghost pipe, Catawba rhododendron, Japanese andromeda, Satsuki azalea, Redvein enkianthus
• Aquifoliaceae (5): American holly, Yaupon holly, Winterberry, Inkberry, Japanese holly
• Apocynaceae (4): Common milkweed, Butterfly milkweed, Lesser periwinkle, Swamp milkweed
• Brassicaceae (4): Garlic mustard, Dame's rocket, Cut-leaved toothwort, Purple cress
• Rubiaceae (4): Partridgeberry, Buttonbush, Azure bluet, Gardenia
• Hydrangeaceae (4): Sweet mock orange, Bigleaf hydrangea, Panicle hydrangea, Slender deutzia
• Apiaceae (3): Queen Anne's lace (wild carrot), Poison hemlock, Harbinger of spring

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): Eastern redbud, Butterfly milkweed, American trumpet vine, Purple crownvetch, Mapleleaf viburnum, Yaupon holly, Cutleaf coneflower, Grey-headed coneflower, Foxglove beardtongue, Common snowberry, New Jersey tea, Climbing prairie rose and 1 more
• High moisture use (suits wet spots) (21): Chicory, Jack-in-the-pulpit, Eastern skunk cabbage, Buttonbush, Wild bergamot, Virginia bluebells, Bird's-foot trefoil, Swamp milkweed, Carpet bugle, Southern magnolia, Butterweed, Winterberry and 9 more
• Rapid growth rate (24): 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, Partridge pea and 12 more

How we picked these flowers

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

Rare plant list: Ohio endangered and threatened plants (Ohio Adm. Code 1501:18-1-03, eff. Dec. 26, 2024)
Invasive plant list: Ohio invasive plant species (Ohio Adm. Code 901:5-30-01)