Virginia in bloom

Virginia bloom calendar

Darker = more flowering sightings that month. Based on iNaturalist research-grade observations in Virginia 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 (27): Roses (genus Rosa), Multiflora rose, Mock strawberry, Black cherry, Wineberry, Common ninebark, Downy serviceberry, Black chokeberry and 19 more
• Asteraceae (14): Common yarrow, White snakeroot, Chicory, Black-eyed Susan, Common dandelion, Late boneset, Wingstem, Cutleaf coneflower and 6 more
• Fabaceae (10): White clover, Red clover, Eastern redbud, Purple crownvetch, Partridge pea, Common vetch, Persian silk tree, Chinese bushclover and 2 more
• Lamiaceae (9): Common selfheal, Ground-ivy, Red deadnettle, Henbit deadnettle, Lyreleaf sage, Beefsteak plant, Wild basil, Bluebeard and 1 more
• Viburnaceae (9): American black elderberry, Mapleleaf viburnum, Blackhaw, Japanese snowball viburnum, Nannyberry, Arrowwood viburnum, Laurustinus, Koreanspice viburnum and 1 more
• Ericaceae (7): Ghost pipe, Striped wintergreen, Mountain laurel, Pinxter flower, Catawba rhododendron, Japanese andromeda, Satsuki azalea
• Caprifoliaceae (6): Amur honeysuckle, Japanese honeysuckle, Common snowberry, Seven-son flower, Weigela, Glossy abelia
• Ranunculaceae (6): Lesser celandine, Rue anemone, Red columbine, Round-lobed hepatica, Autumn clematis, Black cohosh
• 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
• Orchidaceae (5): Pink lady's slipper, Crane-fly orchid, Downy rattlesnake plantain, Showy orchis, Putty root
• Hydrangeaceae (5): Sweet mock orange, Bigleaf hydrangea, Panicle hydrangea, Mountain hydrangea, Slender deutzia
• Rubiaceae (4): Partridgeberry, Buttonbush, Azure bluet, Gardenia
• Hamamelidaceae (4): American witch-hazel, Dwarf fothergilla, Chinese fringe flower, Hybrid witch hazel
• Apocynaceae (3): Common milkweed, Butterfly milkweed, Lesser periwinkle

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): Eastern redbud, Butterfly milkweed, American trumpet vine, Mountain laurel, Purple crownvetch, Mapleleaf viburnum, Yaupon holly, Cutleaf coneflower, Common snowberry, New Jersey tea, Common ninebark, Western redbud
• High moisture use (suits wet spots) (18): Chicory, Jack-in-the-pulpit, Eastern skunk cabbage, Buttonbush, Virginia bluebells, Pickerelweed, Common vetch, Southern magnolia, Winterberry, Swamp rose mallow, Red buckeye, Golden ragwort and 6 more
• Rapid growth rate (22): 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 10 more

How we picked these flowers

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

Rare plant list: Virginia endangered and threatened plant and insect species (2VAC5-320-10)
Invasive plant list: Virginia noxious weeds (2VAC5-317-20, Tier 1, 2 and 3)