Bloomipedia

🌸 State flowers

South Dakota in bloom

South Dakota's official flower is the American pasque flower (1903). Meet it, then explore 108 South Dakota wildflowers and garden favorites by bloom month.

Prairie pasqueflower
★ Official state floral emblem · 1903

American pasque flower

Pulsatilla nuttalliana

Named South Dakota's official state floral emblem in 1903 (SDCL 1-6-10). The law calls it Pulsatilla hirsutissima, an older name for Pulsatilla nuttalliana (also called Anemone patens). The state motto that goes with it: “I Lead.” In South Dakota, most flowering sightings come in March–May.

Meet the prairie pasqueflower →

Sources: SDCL 1-6-10; iNaturalist flowering records.

South Dakota flower gifts

State flower gifts for anyone who loves South Dakota.

🌱 Sample spot. Handmade gift picks from independent shops will appear here once our shop partnership is approved. These cards are placeholders, not real products.

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    American pasque flower print

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    South Dakota wildflower map

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Explore 108 South Dakota flowers

101 wildflowers and flowering shrubs, picked from South Dakota's most-observed flowering plants on iNaturalist, plus 7 garden favorites. Filter by bloom month or type.

Showing 107 flowers

Hoary vervain (Verbena stricta)

Hoary vervain

Verbena stricta

Native

🌼 Blooms in SD: June–August

967 SD sightings on iNaturalist
Plains pricklypear (Opuntia polyacantha)

Plains pricklypear

Opuntia polyacantha

Native

🌼 Blooms in SD: June

927 SD sightings on iNaturalist
Common milkweed (Asclepias syriaca)

Common milkweed

Asclepias syriaca

Native

🌼 Few flowering records in SD

885 SD sightings on iNaturalist
Leadplant (Amorpha canescens)

Leadplant

Amorpha canescens

Native

🌼 Blooms in SD: July–September

875 SD sightings on iNaturalist
Great mullein (Verbascum thapsus)

Great mullein

Verbascum thapsus

Introduced

🌼 Blooms in SD: July–September

839 SD sightings on iNaturalist
Field bindweed (Convolvulus arvensis)

Field bindweed

Convolvulus arvensis

Introduced

🌼 Blooms in SD: June–September

786 SD sightings on iNaturalist
Scarlet globemallow (Sphaeralcea coccinea)

Scarlet globemallow

Sphaeralcea coccinea

Native

🌼 Blooms in SD: May–July

785 SD sightings on iNaturalist
Upright prairie coneflower (Ratibida columnifera)

Upright prairie coneflower

Ratibida columnifera

Native

🌼 Blooms in SD: June–August

770 SD sightings on iNaturalist
Wild bergamot (Monarda fistulosa)

Wild bergamot

Monarda fistulosa

Native

🌼 Blooms in SD: July–August

745 SD sightings on iNaturalist
Creeping thistle (Cirsium arvense)

Creeping thistle

Cirsium arvense

Introduced

🌼 Few flowering records in SD

706 SD sightings on iNaturalist
Dame's rocket (Hesperis matronalis)

Dame's rocket

Hesperis matronalis

Introduced

🌼 Blooms in SD: May–August

675 SD sightings on iNaturalist
Great Plains yucca (Yucca glauca)

Great Plains yucca

Yucca glauca

Native

🌼 Few flowering records in SD

661 SD sightings on iNaturalist
Curlycup gumweed (Grindelia squarrosa)

Curlycup gumweed

Grindelia squarrosa

Native

🌼 Blooms in SD: July–September

624 SD sightings on iNaturalist
Yellow sweetclover (Melilotus officinalis)

Yellow sweetclover

Melilotus officinalis

Introduced

🌼 Blooms in SD: June–September

623 SD sightings on iNaturalist
Showy milkweed (Asclepias speciosa)

Showy milkweed

Asclepias speciosa

Native

🌼 Blooms in SD: June–July

617 SD sightings on iNaturalist
Black-eyed Susan (Rudbeckia hirta)

Black-eyed Susan

Rudbeckia hirta

★ MD state flowerNative

🌼 Blooms in SD: June–September

547 SD sightings on iNaturalist
Yellow salsify (Tragopogon dubius)

Yellow salsify

Tragopogon dubius

Introduced

🌼 Blooms in SD: May–July

506 SD sightings on iNaturalist
Wild licorice (Glycyrrhiza lepidota)

Wild licorice

Glycyrrhiza lepidota

Native

🌼 Blooms in SD: June–July

504 SD sightings on iNaturalist
Narrow-leaved purple coneflower (Echinacea angustifolia)

Narrow-leaved purple coneflower

Echinacea angustifolia

Native

🌼 Blooms in SD: July–August

500 SD sightings on iNaturalist
Chokecherry (Prunus virginiana)

Chokecherry

Prunus virginiana

Native

🌼 Blooms in SD: April–June

496 SD sightings on iNaturalist
Fireweed (Chamaenerion angustifolium)

Fireweed

Chamaenerion angustifolium

Native

🌼 Blooms in SD: June–September

495 SD sightings on iNaturalist
Common yarrow (Achillea millefolium)

Common yarrow

Achillea millefolium

Native

🌼 Blooms in SD: May–August

484 SD sightings on iNaturalist
Large-flowered beardtongue (Penstemon grandiflorus)

Large-flowered beardtongue

Penstemon grandiflorus

Native

🌼 Blooms in SD: May–June

435 SD sightings on iNaturalist
Hound's-tongue (Cynoglossum officinale)

Hound's-tongue

Cynoglossum officinale

Introduced

🌼 Few flowering records in SD

431 SD sightings on iNaturalist
Star-flowered lily-of-the-valley (Maianthemum stellatum)

Star-flowered lily-of-the-valley

Maianthemum stellatum

Native

🌼 Few flowering records in SD

425 SD sightings on iNaturalist
Silvery scurfpea (Pediomelum argophyllum)

Silvery scurfpea

Pediomelum argophyllum

Native

🌼 Few flowering records in SD

421 SD sightings on iNaturalist
Red clover (Trifolium pratense)

Red clover

Trifolium pratense

★ VT state flowerIntroduced

🌼 Blooms in SD: June–September

411 SD sightings on iNaturalist
Woodland pinedrops (Pterospora andromedea)

Woodland pinedrops

Pterospora andromedea

Native

🌼 Few flowering records in SD

404 SD sightings on iNaturalist
Golden bean (Thermopsis rhombifolia)

Golden bean

Thermopsis rhombifolia

Native

🌼 Few flowering records in SD

390 SD sightings on iNaturalist
Western harebell (Campanula petiolata)

Western harebell

Campanula petiolata

🌼 Blooms in SD: June–September

379 SD sightings on iNaturalist
Wood lily (Lilium philadelphicum)

Wood lily

Lilium philadelphicum

Native

🌼 Blooms in SD: June–July

371 SD sightings on iNaturalist
Catnip (Nepeta cataria)

Catnip

Nepeta cataria

Introduced

🌼 Blooms in SD: July–September

368 SD sightings on iNaturalist
Roses (genus Rosa) (Rosa)

Roses (genus Rosa)

Rosa

★ NY state flower🌷 Garden flower

🌷 Grown in South Dakota gardens

367 SD sightings on iNaturalist
Musk thistle (Carduus nutans)

Musk thistle

Carduus nutans

Introduced

🌼 Few flowering records in SD

366 SD sightings on iNaturalist
Dotted gayfeather (Liatris punctata)

Dotted gayfeather

Liatris punctata

Native

🌼 Few flowering records in SD

341 SD sightings on iNaturalist
Purple prairie clover (Dalea purpurea)

Purple prairie clover

Dalea purpurea

Native

🌼 Few flowering records in SD

326 SD sightings on iNaturalist
Buffalo-bur (Solanum rostratum)

Buffalo-bur

Solanum rostratum

Native

🌼 Blooms in SD: June–August

316 SD sightings on iNaturalist
Western blue flag (Iris missouriensis)

Western blue flag

Iris missouriensis

Native

🌼 Few flowering records in SD

312 SD sightings on iNaturalist
Bearberry (Arctostaphylos uva-ursi)

Bearberry

Arctostaphylos uva-ursi

Native

🌼 Blooms in SD: May–June

311 SD sightings on iNaturalist
Richardson's geranium (Geranium richardsonii)

Richardson's geranium

Geranium richardsonii

Native

🌼 Blooms in SD: June–August

304 SD sightings on iNaturalist
Common motherwort (Leonurus cardiaca)

Common motherwort

Leonurus cardiaca

Introduced

🌼 Few flowering records in SD

303 SD sightings on iNaturalist
Prairie rose (Rosa arkansana)

Prairie rose

Rosa arkansana

★ IA state flowerNative

🌼 Few flowering records in SD

303 SD sightings on iNaturalist
Swamp milkweed (Asclepias incarnata)

Swamp milkweed

Asclepias incarnata

Native

🌼 Few flowering records in SD

302 SD sightings on iNaturalist
Common sunflower (Helianthus annuus)

Common sunflower

Helianthus annuus

Native

🌼 Few flowering records in SD

287 SD sightings on iNaturalist
Grassland pricklypear (Opuntia cymochila)

Grassland pricklypear

Opuntia cymochila

🌼 Few flowering records in SD

285 SD sightings on iNaturalist
Common cowparsnip (Heracleum maximum)

Common cowparsnip

Heracleum maximum

Native

🌼 Few flowering records in SD

281 SD sightings on iNaturalist
Common tansy (Tanacetum vulgare)

Common tansy

Tanacetum vulgare

Introduced

🌼 Few flowering records in SD

280 SD sightings on iNaturalist
Hairy false goldenaster (Heterotheca villosa)

Hairy false goldenaster

Heterotheca villosa

Native

🌼 Blooms in SD: July–September

277 SD sightings on iNaturalist
American vetch (Vicia americana)

American vetch

Vicia americana

Native

🌼 Blooms in SD: May–July

272 SD sightings on iNaturalist
Bull thistle (Cirsium vulgare)

Bull thistle

Cirsium vulgare

Introduced

🌼 Blooms in SD: June–September

267 SD sightings on iNaturalist
Lambert's locoweed (Oxytropis lambertii)

Lambert's locoweed

Oxytropis lambertii

Native

🌼 Few flowering records in SD

262 SD sightings on iNaturalist
Canada anemone (Anemonastrum canadense)

Canada anemone

Anemonastrum canadense

Native

🌼 Few flowering records in SD

257 SD sightings on iNaturalist
Sego lily (Calochortus nuttallii)

Sego lily

Calochortus nuttallii

★ UT state flowerNative

🌼 Blooms in SD: May–July

255 SD sightings on iNaturalist
Ground-plum (Astragalus crassicarpus)

Ground-plum

Astragalus crassicarpus

Native

🌼 Few flowering records in SD

248 SD sightings on iNaturalist
Common starlily (Leucocrinum montanum)

Common starlily

Leucocrinum montanum

Native

🌼 Blooms in SD: April–May

245 SD sightings on iNaturalist
American plum (Prunus americana)

American plum

Prunus americana

Native

🌼 Blooms in SD: April–May

242 SD sightings on iNaturalist
Western false gromwell (Lithospermum occidentale)

Western false gromwell

Lithospermum occidentale

Native

🌼 Few flowering records in SD

234 SD sightings on iNaturalist
Scarlet beeblossom (Oenothera suffrutescens)

Scarlet beeblossom

Oenothera suffrutescens

Native

🌼 Few flowering records in SD

232 SD sightings on iNaturalist
White-flower beardtongue (Penstemon albidus)

White-flower beardtongue

Penstemon albidus

Native

🌼 Few flowering records in SD

232 SD sightings on iNaturalist
Dark-throated shooting star (Primula pauciflora)

Dark-throated shooting star

Primula pauciflora

Native

🌼 Few flowering records in SD

232 SD sightings on iNaturalist
Canada violet (Viola canadensis)

Canada violet

Viola canadensis

Native

🌼 Blooms in SD: April–July

232 SD sightings on iNaturalist
Stiff-leaved goldenrod (Solidago rigida)

Stiff-leaved goldenrod

Solidago rigida

Native

🌼 Few flowering records in SD

229 SD sightings on iNaturalist
White clover (Trifolium repens)

White clover

Trifolium repens

Introduced

🌼 Few flowering records in SD

220 SD sightings on iNaturalist
Lanceleaf stonecrop (Sedum lanceolatum)

Lanceleaf stonecrop

Sedum lanceolatum

Native

🌼 Few flowering records in SD

216 SD sightings on iNaturalist
Bittersweet nightshade (Solanum dulcamara)

Bittersweet nightshade

Solanum dulcamara

Introduced

🌼 Few flowering records in SD

214 SD sightings on iNaturalist
Purple crownvetch (Securigera varia)

Purple crownvetch

Securigera varia

★ PA state beautification and conservation plantIntroduced

🌼 Few flowering records in SD

213 SD sightings on iNaturalist
Gunnison's mariposa lily (Calochortus gunnisonii)

Gunnison's mariposa lily

Calochortus gunnisonii

Native

🌼 Blooms in SD: July

212 SD sightings on iNaturalist
Rubber rabbitbrush (Ericameria nauseosa)

Rubber rabbitbrush

Ericameria nauseosa

Native

🌼 Few flowering records in SD

209 SD sightings on iNaturalist
Virginia waterleaf (Hydrophyllum virginianum)

Virginia waterleaf

Hydrophyllum virginianum

Native

🌼 Few flowering records in SD

208 SD sightings on iNaturalist
Spreading dogbane (Apocynum androsaemifolium)

Spreading dogbane

Apocynum androsaemifolium

Native

🌼 Blooms in SD: May–August

205 SD sightings on iNaturalist
Golden currant (Ribes aureum)

Golden currant

Ribes aureum

Native

🌼 Blooms in SD: April–June

202 SD sightings on iNaturalist
Common dandelion (Taraxacum officinale)

Common dandelion

Taraxacum officinale

★ NH state wildflowerNative

🌼 Few flowering records in SD

196 SD sightings on iNaturalist
Narrowleaf puccoon (Lithospermum incisum)

Narrowleaf puccoon

Lithospermum incisum

Native

🌼 Few flowering records in SD

196 SD sightings on iNaturalist
Hoary puccoon (Lithospermum canescens)

Hoary puccoon

Lithospermum canescens

Native

🌼 Blooms in SD: May–June

194 SD sightings on iNaturalist
Prairie smoke (Geum triflorum)

Prairie smoke

Geum triflorum

Native

🌼 Few flowering records in SD

190 SD sightings on iNaturalist
Breadroot scurf pea (Pediomelum esculentum)

Breadroot scurf pea

Pediomelum esculentum

Native

🌼 Few flowering records in SD

188 SD sightings on iNaturalist
Lilac penstemon (Penstemon gracilis)

Lilac penstemon

Penstemon gracilis

Native

🌼 Blooms in SD: June–July

185 SD sightings on iNaturalist
Brittle pricklypear (Opuntia fragilis)

Brittle pricklypear

Opuntia fragilis

Native

🌼 Few flowering records in SD

182 SD sightings on iNaturalist
Virginia strawberry (Fragaria virginiana)

Virginia strawberry

Fragaria virginiana

Native

🌼 Blooms in SD: May–August

182 SD sightings on iNaturalist
Bigbract verbena (Verbena bracteata)

Bigbract verbena

Verbena bracteata

Native

🌼 Few flowering records in SD

180 SD sightings on iNaturalist
Racemose milkvetch (Astragalus racemosus)

Racemose milkvetch

Astragalus racemosus

Native

🌼 Few flowering records in SD

180 SD sightings on iNaturalist
Red osier dogwood (Cornus sericea)

Red osier dogwood

Cornus sericea

Native

🌼 Blooms in SD: May–August

180 SD sightings on iNaturalist
Blue vervain (Verbena hastata)

Blue vervain

Verbena hastata

Native

🌼 Few flowering records in SD

178 SD sightings on iNaturalist
Cutleaf coneflower (Rudbeckia laciniata)

Cutleaf coneflower

Rudbeckia laciniata

Native

🌼 Few flowering records in SD

178 SD sightings on iNaturalist
White sweetclover (Melilotus albus)

White sweetclover

Melilotus albus

🌼 Few flowering records in SD

177 SD sightings on iNaturalist
Butter-and-eggs (common toadflax) (Linaria vulgaris)

Butter-and-eggs (common toadflax)

Linaria vulgaris

Introduced

🌼 Blooms in SD: July–September

171 SD sightings on iNaturalist
Maximilian sunflower (Helianthus maximiliani)

Maximilian sunflower

Helianthus maximiliani

Native

🌼 Few flowering records in SD

167 SD sightings on iNaturalist
Northern paintbrush (Castilleja septentrionalis)

Northern paintbrush

Castilleja septentrionalis

Native

🌼 Few flowering records in SD

167 SD sightings on iNaturalist
False sunflower (Heliopsis helianthoides)

False sunflower

Heliopsis helianthoides

Native

🌼 Few flowering records in SD

166 SD sightings on iNaturalist
Spiny phlox (Phlox hoodii)

Spiny phlox

Phlox hoodii

Native

🌼 Few flowering records in SD

166 SD sightings on iNaturalist
Fragrant evening primrose (Oenothera cespitosa)

Fragrant evening primrose

Oenothera cespitosa

Native

🌼 Few flowering records in SD

165 SD sightings on iNaturalist
White snakeroot (Ageratina altissima)

White snakeroot

Ageratina altissima

Native

🌼 Few flowering records in SD

162 SD sightings on iNaturalist
Bird's-foot trefoil (Lotus corniculatus)

Bird's-foot trefoil

Lotus corniculatus

Introduced

🌼 Few flowering records in SD

160 SD sightings on iNaturalist
Creeping mahonia (Berberis repens)

Creeping mahonia

Berberis repens

Native

🌼 Few flowering records in SD

158 SD sightings on iNaturalist
Prairie bluebells (Mertensia lanceolata)

Prairie bluebells

Mertensia lanceolata

Native

🌼 Few flowering records in SD

155 SD sightings on iNaturalist
Long-leaved groundcherry (Physalis longifolia)

Long-leaved groundcherry

Physalis longifolia

Native

🌼 Blooms in SD: June–September

154 SD sightings on iNaturalist
Rough blazing star (Liatris aspera)

Rough blazing star

Liatris aspera

Native

🌼 Few flowering records in SD

152 SD sightings on iNaturalist
Downy painted-cup (Castilleja sessiliflora)

Downy painted-cup

Castilleja sessiliflora

Native

🌼 Few flowering records in SD

148 SD sightings on iNaturalist
Textile onion (Allium textile)

Textile onion

Allium textile

Native

🌼 Blooms in SD: May–June

147 SD sightings on iNaturalist
Red columbine (Aquilegia canadensis)

Red columbine

Aquilegia canadensis

Native

🌼 Blooms in SD: May–June

145 SD sightings on iNaturalist
White campion (Silene latifolia)

White campion

Silene latifolia

Introduced

🌼 Few flowering records in SD

144 SD sightings on iNaturalist
Purple lilac (Syringa vulgaris)

Purple lilac

Syringa vulgaris

★ NH state flower🌷 Garden flower

🌷 Grown in South Dakota gardens

53 SD sightings on iNaturalist
Purple coneflower (Echinacea purpurea)

Purple coneflower

Echinacea purpurea

🌷 Garden flower

🌷 Grown in South Dakota gardens

46 SD sightings on iNaturalist
Orange daylily (Hemerocallis fulva)

Orange daylily

Hemerocallis fulva

🌷 Garden flower

🌷 Grown in South Dakota gardens

18 SD sightings on iNaturalist
Garden tulip (Tulipa gesneriana)

Garden tulip

Tulipa gesneriana

🌷 Garden flower

🌷 Grown in South Dakota gardens

3 SD sightings on iNaturalist
Bigleaf hydrangea (Hydrangea macrophylla)

Bigleaf hydrangea

Hydrangea macrophylla

🌷 Garden flower

🌷 Grown in South Dakota gardens

0 SD sightings on iNaturalist
Garden peony (Paeonia lactiflora)

Garden peony

Paeonia lactiflora

🌷 Garden flower

🌷 Grown in South Dakota gardens

0 SD sightings on iNaturalist

South Dakota bloom calendar

Show the full bloom calendar (flowers with 15+ South Dakota flowering records, earliest bloomers first)
JJanFFebMMarAAprMMayJJunJJulAAugSSepOOctNNovDDec
Prairie pasqueflower127 records
Chokecherry30 records
Lambert's locoweed15 records
Common starlily23 records
American plum32 records
Canada violet29 records
Golden currant20 records
Prairie smoke15 records
Prairie bluebells17 records
Scarlet globemallow36 records
Dame's rocket60 records
Yellow salsify25 records
Common yarrow27 records
Large-flowered beardtongue22 records
Roses (genus Rosa)17 records
Bearberry46 records
American vetch25 records
Sego lily89 records
Scarlet beeblossom19 records
Spreading dogbane20 records
Hoary puccoon21 records
Virginia strawberry23 records
Red osier dogwood28 records
Textile onion41 records
Red columbine42 records
Hoary vervain41 records
Plains pricklypear22 records
Field bindweed123 records
Upright prairie coneflower37 records
Yellow sweetclover26 records
Showy milkweed104 records
Black-eyed Susan70 records
Wild licorice25 records
Fireweed109 records
Red clover27 records
Western harebell36 records
Wood lily75 records
Musk thistle19 records
Buffalo-bur26 records
Richardson's geranium27 records
Common sunflower18 records
Bull thistle20 records
Purple crownvetch15 records
Lilac penstemon25 records
Long-leaved groundcherry31 records
Leadplant31 records
Great mullein26 records
Wild bergamot39 records
Curlycup gumweed43 records
Narrow-leaved purple coneflower23 records
Catnip28 records
Dotted gayfeather17 records
Common tansy18 records
Hairy false goldenaster37 records
Gunnison's mariposa lily108 records
Blue vervain15 records
Butter-and-eggs (common toadflax)30 records

Darker = more flowering sightings that month. Based on iNaturalist research-grade observations in South Dakota marked “Flowering,” as of October 17, 2026. Garden flowers have few records because research-grade data leaves out planted ones.

How we picked these flowers

We started from iNaturalist's research-grade sightings in South Dakota, 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 South Dakota's official flowers and popular garden flowers that iNaturalist users record growing in South Dakota. Every flower needs a CC0 or CC BY photo.

Rare plant list: South Dakota's endangered and threatened list (ARSD 41:10:02) covers animals only, so we show NatureServe's South Dakota ranks for plants.
Invasive plant list: South Dakota statewide noxious weeds (ARSD 12:62:03:01.06)