Trending: colt's-foot (Tussilago farfara) — 214 observations this week
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Phenology
iNaturalistColt's-foot is often one of the first flowers to push through bare ground in late winter, so spotting it in your neighborhood or along roadsides is a reliable signal that spring has truly arrived — weeks before most other plants wake up.
Colt's-foot is a tough little plant with bright yellow, dandelion-like flowers that bloom in late winter or early spring — sometimes even through snow — before any leaves show up. This week, hundreds of nature lovers logged sightings of it on the iNaturalist app, helping scientists track exactly when and where it's blooming. Because it flowers so early and consistently, it's a great indicator of seasonal change and how spring is shifting with the climate.
Key Findings
214 research-grade observations of colt's-foot were recorded on iNaturalist in a single week, placing it among the most-observed plant species globally for that period.
Colt's-foot (Tussilago farfara) blooms before its leaves emerge, making it one of the earliest flowering plants of the year and a key phenology marker for late winter to early spring.
The spike in citizen-science sightings suggests a coordinated bloom event, likely driven by warming temperatures in early-to-mid April across temperate regions.
chevron_right Technical Summary
Colt's-foot, a small yellow wildflower that blooms before its leaves appear, is one of the most-watched plants on iNaturalist this week with 214 research-grade observations — a sign that citizen scientists are tracking its early spring emergence across the Northern Hemisphere.
Abstract Preview
colt's-foot is among the most observed plant species this week with 214 research-grade observations.
open_in_new Read full abstract on iNaturalistAbstract copyright held by the original publisher.
Species Mentioned
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