citizen-science
Citizen science is research conducted with the participation of non-professional and amateur researchers from the general public, contributing observations and data to scientific investigations. Plant science particularly benefits from this approach because botanical research requires geographic distribution and long-term monitoring across diverse ecosystems that professional researchers alone cannot achieve. Citizen scientists collecting plant observations—from species identification and phenological tracking to distribution mapping—expand the scale and reach of plant ecology and conservation research far beyond traditional field studies.
open_in_new WikipediaTrending: pink lady's slipper (Cypripedium acaule) — 335 observatio...
Pink lady's slippers growing in your local woods take 10–15 years to flower for the first time an...
Camouflage via leaf mottling among North American Erythronium speci...
The spotted trout lilies carpeting your spring woodland floor are wearing camouflage refined by d...
Trending: common milkweed (Asclepias syriaca) — 1668 observations this week
Common milkweed blooming in your yard or along a nearby roadside right now is the single most imp...
Trending: butterfly milkweed (Asclepias tuberosa) — 996 observation...
Butterfly milkweed blooming in your yard right now is one of the few native flowers that can sing...
Trending: pink lady's slipper (Cypripedium acaule) — 370 observatio...
If you walk any eastern woodland trail this month, you have a real chance of spotting one of Nort...
Trending: common milkweed (Asclepias syriaca) — 940 observations this week
Milkweed patches in your yard or neighborhood are the single non-negotiable requirement for monar...
Trending: pink lady's slipper (Cypripedium acaule) — 880 observatio...
Pink lady's slippers growing in your local woods take 10–15 years to first bloom and can't surviv...
Trending: large white trillium (Trillium grandiflorum) — 685 observ...
Large white trillium blooms for only a few fleeting weeks each spring in eastern woodlands — and ...
Trending: Virginia strawberry (Fragaria virginiana) — 441 observati...
Wild strawberry patches threading through your lawn or meadow edge aren't weeds — they're a groun...
Trending: common milkweed (Asclepias syriaca) — 1071 observations this week
Every milkweed plant spotted and logged right now is a data point helping track whether monarch b...
Trending: pink lady's slipper (Cypripedium acaule) — 876 observatio...
Pink lady's slippers blooming near your local trails take 10–17 years to flower from seed and wil...
Automating pollinator identification using artificial intelligence ...
Every bee photo you snap and upload to a nature app could soon be automatically identified by AI,...
Trending: wild geranium (Geranium maculatum) — 1274 observations this week
Wild geranium blooming along your woodland trail edge right now is a reliable nectar stop for que...
Trending: Jack-in-the-Pulpit (Arisaema triphyllum) — 1141 observati...
The hooded bloom emerging in your local forest right now is a marvel of deception: it mimics a fu...
Trending: large white trillium (Trillium grandiflorum) — 766 observ...
If you walk any eastern hardwood forest this week, you're in the middle of peak trillium season —...
Trending: chokecherry (Prunus virginiana) — 345 observations this week
Chokecherry thickets along roadsides and forest edges are ripening right now, and the dark astrin...
Trending: Solomon's plume (Maianthemum racemosum) — 876 observation...
Solomon's plume arching through a shaded woodland edge tells you the understory is intact — and p...
Trending: chokecherry (Prunus virginiana) — 481 observations this week
Chokecherry thickets lining roadsides and forest edges right now are loaded with clusters of tart...
Trending: dame's rocket (Hesperis matronalis) — 1256 observations this week
Those tall, fragrant purple-and-white flower clusters lining roadsides and woodland edges right n...
Trending: Virginia strawberry (Fragaria virginiana) — 374 observati...
Virginia strawberry is fruiting in yards, meadows, and trail edges right now — and the tiny red b...
Trending: black ash (Fraxinus nigra) — 294 observations this week
Black ash trees woven into the soggy edges of northern swamps and river corridors are disappearin...
Trending: garlic mustard (Alliaria petiolata) — 1718 observations this week
Garlic mustard is likely already colonizing the edges of your local park or garden right now — an...
Trending: common yarrow (Achillea millefolium) — 1271 observations ...
Yarrow blooming in roadside ditches and meadows right now is one of the best indicators that your...
Trending: black-eyed Susan (Rudbeckia hirta) — 1028 observations this week
Black-eyed Susans blooming in your yard or along roadsides right now are feeding native bees and ...
Trending: purple crownvetch (Securigera varia) — 925 observations this week
That pink-and-white flowering vine carpeting the highway median and creeping into trail edges nea...
Trending: Canadian bunchberry (Cornus canadensis) — 428 observation...
Canadian bunchberry carpeting the forest floor beneath your local conifers is a reliable sign of ...
Trending: Canada anemone (Anemonastrum canadense) — 405 observation...
Canada anemone spreading through a rain garden or wet meadow edge is doing double duty — its dens...
netted pawpaw (Asimina reticulata) observed in Jupiter Inlet Colony...
Netted pawpaw is a Florida-endemic shrub that supports native zebra swallowtail and Pawpaw sphinx...
Trending: eastern poison ivy (Toxicodendron radicans) — 1019 observ...
Knowing what poison ivy looks like in its current spring growth form — before leaves fully unfurl...
Trending: dame's rocket (Hesperis matronalis) — 967 observations this week
Dame's rocket lines roadsides and woodland edges every May looking nearly identical to native phl...
Trending: red trillium (Trillium erectum) — 546 observations this week
Red trillium blooming in your local forest is one of spring's most precise ecological clocks — if...
Trending: yellow trout lily (Erythronium americanum) — 431 observat...
Yellow trout lily carpets forest floors for just a few weeks each spring before vanishing entirel...
Trending: bloodroot (Sanguinaria canadensis) — 1353 observations this week
Bloodroot is one of the first wildflowers to emerge each spring, making its bloom a living calend...
Trending: common yarrow (Achillea millefolium) — 1044 observations ...
Yarrow blooming in your yard or along your fence line is a free pollinator buffet — its flat-topp...
Trending: multiflora rose (Rosa multiflora) — 1008 observations this week
Multiflora rose forms impenetrable thickets that crowd out the native shrubs and wildflowers your...
Trending: dame's rocket (Hesperis matronalis) — 932 observations this week
Those showy purple clusters lining roadsides and garden edges in June are dame's rocket, not nati...
Trending: eastern poison ivy (Toxicodendron radicans) — 843 observa...
Poison ivy is actively leafing out right now along the trail edges, fence lines, and woodland bor...
Trending: Canada mayflower (Maianthemum canadense) — 465 observatio...
Canada mayflower carpeting the forest floor beneath your feet is a reliable sign that your woodla...
Trending: wild sarsaparilla (Aralia nudicaulis) — 411 observations ...
Wild sarsaparilla carpeting the forest floor right now is one of the clearest phenological marker...
Trending: chokecherry (Prunus virginiana) — 393 observations this week
Chokecherry thickets along your local trail edges are producing clusters of dark red fruit right ...
Trending: Solomon's plume (Maianthemum racemosum) — 335 observation...
Solomon's plume is one of the easiest native woodland plants to establish in a shady corner, and ...
pink lady's slipper (Cypripedium acaule) observed in Chepachet
Pink lady's slippers take up to 15 years to bloom from seed and can only germinate with the help ...
Tuckeroo (Cupaniopsis anacardioides) observed in The Hammocks, FL, USA
Tuckeroo has established itself in South Florida natural areas like The Hammocks, where it can ou...
Trending: wild geranium (Geranium maculatum) — 1140 observations this week
Wild geranium blooming in your local woodland right now is a reliable phenology signal that sprin...
Trending: eastern poison ivy (Toxicodendron radicans) — 923 observa...
Poison ivy is hitting peak urushiol potency right now — the same week crowds are heading onto tra...
Trending: red trillium (Trillium erectum) — 381 observations this week
Red trillium blooming in your local woods is one of spring's most reliable phenological clocks — ...
Trending: Jack-in-the-Pulpit (Arisaema triphyllum) — 342 observatio...
Jack-in-the-Pulpit unfurling in your local woods right now marks one of spring's most reliable ph...
Dwarf pawpaw (Asimina pygmaea) observed in Cedar Key Scrub State Re...
Dwarf pawpaw is one of the few native fruit-bearing shrubs adapted to Florida's harsh, sandy scru...
mile-a-minute weed (Persicaria perfoliata) observed in Rowley Rd, C...
If this vine reaches the edge of your yard or a nearby trail, it can blanket native shrubs and wi...
Trending: common yarrow (Achillea millefolium) — 1094 observations ...
Yarrow spreading along roadsides and meadow edges near you is one of the easiest native plants to...
Trending: foxglove beardtongue (Penstemon digitalis) — 804 observat...
Foxglove beardtongue blooming in your yard or along a roadside right now is prime habitat for nat...
Trending: eastern poison ivy (Toxicodendron radicans) — 697 observa...
Knowing what poison ivy looks like right now — shiny, three-leafed, and often climbing fences or ...
Trending: Canada anemone (Anemonastrum canadense) — 375 observation...
Canada anemone spreading through a moist garden corner or streambank edge is doing real ecologica...
Trending: Canadian bunchberry (Cornus canadensis) — 356 observation...
Canadian bunchberry carpeting the forest floor of a boreal trail is one of the clearest signs tha...
Trending: dame's rocket (Hesperis matronalis) — 330 observations this week
If you've noticed fragrant purple flower clusters lining roadsides or spilling into woodland edge...
Trending: yellow trout lily (Erythronium americanum) — 1700 observa...
Those cheerful yellow nodding flowers carpeting your local woodland floor in April are yellow tro...
Trending: garlic mustard (Alliaria petiolata) — 1246 observations this week
Garlic mustard is probably already creeping into a park, trail, or shaded garden bed near you rig...
Trending: Solomon's plume (Maianthemum racemosum) — 957 observation...
Solomon's plume arching over the shaded corners of your yard or local trail right now is a reliab...
Trending: eastern poison ivy (Toxicodendron radicans) — 899 observa...
Poison ivy is actively leafing out right now along trail edges, fence lines, and woodland borders...
Trending: common yarrow (Achillea millefolium) — 891 observations this week
Yarrow blooming in your yard or along roadsides right now is one of the most reliable signals tha...
Trending: chokecherry (Prunus virginiana) — 506 observations this week
Chokecherry thickets along roadsides and woodland edges are prime spots to watch for tiger swallo...
Trending: wild sarsaparilla (Aralia nudicaulis) — 308 observations ...
Wild sarsaparilla carpets the same shaded forest floors you walk through in spring — learning to ...
Worms about town: a citizen science project discovers microsporidia...
The microscopic worms tunneling through your garden soil include both plant helpers and plant des...
Trending: mayapple (Podophyllum peltatum) — 2092 observations this week
The mayapple carpeting the forest floor of your local woods right now is one of spring's most rel...
Trending: common blue violet (Viola sororia) — 2069 observations this week
Common blue violets blooming in your lawn or garden are one of the only early-spring food sources...
Trending: eastern poison ivy (Toxicodendron radicans) — 1515 observ...
Poison ivy is probably already growing along the edges of your yard, local trails, or park — and ...
Trending: yellow trout lily (Erythronium americanum) — 619 observat...
Yellow trout lily carpets woodland floors in early spring before tree canopies close, and if you ...
Trending: bloodroot (Sanguinaria canadensis) — 509 observations this week
Bloodroot's brief early-spring bloom is a key signal that your woodland garden's native wildflowe...
Trending: colt's-foot (Tussilago farfara) — 426 observations this week
Those bright yellow daisy-like flowers pushing up through bare soil in early spring — often mista...
common beargrass (Xerophyllum tenax) observed in Oregon City, OR 97045, USA
Beargrass blooms are a classic sign of healthy Pacific Northwest forests — spotting one and loggi...
Trending: oxeye daisy (Leucanthemum vulgare) — 377 observations this week
Oxeye daisy carpeting roadsides and meadows right now is quietly outcompeting native wildflowers ...
Trending: Salmonberry (Rubus spectabilis) — 199 observations this week
Burst of community sightings helps scientists track exactly when and where salmonberry is floweri...
Trending: western skunk cabbage (Lysichiton americanus) — 138 obser...
Western skunk cabbage is a key early-spring indicator species — if you walk near wetlands or stre...
Trending: Pacific trillium (Trillium ovatum) — 126 observations this week
Tracking how many people are seeing Pacific trillium in bloom each year helps scientists detect w...
wild sarsaparilla (Aralia nudicaulis) observed in Hamilton, ON, CA
Wild sarsaparilla carpeting a shaded woodland floor is a reliable sign you're walking through a h...
Eastern Skunk Cabbage (Symplocarpus foetidus) observed in Hamilton, ON, CA
Eastern Skunk Cabbage is one of the first plants to push through frozen ground each spring — if y...
lesser celandine (Ficaria verna) observed in General Butler State R...
Lesser celandine spreads aggressively in shaded, moist areas like park trails and stream banks, c...
Trending: Virginia Springbeauty (Claytonia virginica) — 1604 observ...
Virginia Springbeauty is one of the first wildflowers to feed hungry bees and pollinators emergin...
Trending: Siberian squill (Scilla siberica) — 321 observations this week
Those brilliant blue carpets appearing under trees in parks and yards right now are Siberian squi...
Trending: common blue violet (Viola sororia) — 1483 observations this week
Common blue violet is likely blooming right now in your backyard, local park, or lawn edge — and ...
Dakota mock vervain (Glandularia bipinnatifida) observed in Lake Sh...
Dakota mock vervain's clusters of bright purple blooms are one of the best low-water natives you ...
Trending: red osier dogwood (Cornus sericea) — 248 observations this week
Red osier dogwood thrives in wet, soggy corners of yards where most shrubs struggle — planting on...
nodding trillium (Trillium cernuum) observed in Dingwall, NS B0C 1G...
Nodding trilliums bloom for only a few weeks each spring in rich, shaded hardwood forests — spott...
American basketflower (Plectocephalus americanus) observed in Kelle...
American basketflower draws native bees and butterflies to North Texas roadsides and meadows — sp...
Trending: cut-leaved toothwort (Cardamine concatenata) — 1093 obser...
Cut-leaved toothwort is one of the first wildflowers to bloom each spring, making it a key indica...
white baneberry (Actaea pachypoda) observed in Mississauga
White baneberry's striking white berries on red stalks are a late-summer highlight in shaded nati...
Trending: mayapple (Podophyllum peltatum) — 1086 observations this week
Surge in mayapple sightings is a real-time signal that spring has arrived in eastern North Americ...
Trending: giant white fawn lily (Erythronium oregonum) — 193 observ...
Tracking when and where wildflowers like giant white fawn lily bloom each year helps scientists s...
Trending: Osoberry (Oemleria cerasiformis) — 135 observations this week
Osoberry is a bellwether of spring — if you live in the Pacific Northwest, seeing it bloom means ...
Trending: giant white fawn lily (Erythronium oregonum) — 264 observ...
Tracking bloom observations like these helps gardeners and conservationists understand whether sp...
Trending: western skunk cabbage (Lysichiton americanus) — 128 obser...
Western skunk cabbage is one of the first plants to emerge each spring — often pushing through sn...
Trending: Salmonberry (Rubus spectabilis) — 123 observations this week
Tracking when and where salmonberry blooms and fruits each year helps gardeners, foragers, and co...
Trending: Virginia Springbeauty (Claytonia virginica) — 1628 observ...
Surge in sightings tells gardeners and nature lovers that spring ephemerals are peaking right now...
Trending: common blue violet (Viola sororia) — 1473 observations this week
Surge in violet sightings signals that spring has arrived in neighborhoods and parks near you, an...
Trending: mayapple (Podophyllum peltatum) — 1427 observations this week
Mayapple's spring bloom is a reliable sign that your local forest is waking up, and tracking its ...
Trending: yellow trout lily (Erythronium americanum) — 1312 observa...
Yellow trout lily is a bellwether of spring in eastern forests — if you walk in a woodland park r...
Trending: garlic mustard (Alliaria petiolata) — 2651 observations this week
Garlic mustard is actively spreading through the woods and parks near you right now, outcompeting...
Trending: eastern poison ivy (Toxicodendron radicans) — 2593 observ...
Poison ivy is actively spreading into backyards, trail edges, and parks right now — knowing what ...
Trending: mayapple (Podophyllum peltatum) — 2390 observations this week
Mayapple carpets the forest floor of nearly every eastern North American woodland in spring, and ...
Trending: common blue violet (Viola sororia) — 1949 observations this week
The common blue violet blooming in your lawn or garden right now is feeding fritillary butterfly ...
Trending: yellow trout lily (Erythronium americanum) — 1010 observa...
Yellow trout lily carpets forest floors in early spring before trees leaf out, and right now is y...
Trending: bloodroot (Sanguinaria canadensis) — 626 observations this week
Bloodroot is one of the earliest spring ephemerals to bloom in eastern woodlands, and tracking it...
Trending: large white trillium (Trillium grandiflorum) — 548 observ...
Spotting trilliums in your local woods is a sign of old-growth forest health — these flowers take...
Trending: colt's-foot (Tussilago farfara) — 535 observations this week
Those cheerful yellow flowers appearing in bare patches along roadsides and disturbed ground righ...
Texas Persimmon (Diospyros texana) observed in McKinney Falls State...
Next time you walk the trails at McKinney Falls, the gnarled little trees with papery charcoal-gr...
Florida Indian Plantain (Arnoglossum floridanum) observed in Gainesville
Florida Indian Plantain is a native wildflower that supports specialist native bees and belongs i...
Dakota mock vervain (Glandularia bipinnatifida) observed in Fort Wo...
Dakota mock vervain blooming in a Fort Worth yard or vacant lot is a signal that your local polli...
Lantana (Lantana strigocamara) observed in Shamrock Park and Nature...
Lantana growing in a park you might walk through this weekend can crowd out native wildflowers an...
American bladdernut (Staphylea trifolia) observed in Frankfort @ Ke...
American bladdernut is a native understory shrub that produces rattling, papery seed pods perfect...
wild bergamot (Monarda fistulosa) observed in Franklin County, KY, USA
Wild bergamot is one of the best native plants you can add to a sunny garden border — it blooms m...
Trending: oxeye daisy (Leucanthemum vulgare) — 878 observations this week
Oxeye daisy carpets roadsides and meadows right now — and knowing it helps you spot whether your ...
Trending: common blue violet (Viola sororia) — 1878 observations this week
Those cheerful purple 'weeds' spreading through your lawn are actually a critical early-spring fo...
Trending: mayapple (Podophyllum peltatum) — 1802 observations this week
Mayapple is likely carpeting the forest floor of any wooded park or trail near you right now — an...
Trending: Virginia Springbeauty (Claytonia virginica) — 1777 observ...
Those small pink-striped flowers carpeting your local woodland floor right now are a critical fir...
Trending: bloodroot (Sanguinaria canadensis) — 1656 observations this week
Bloodroot carpets forest floors in early spring before trees leaf out, and tracking its peak bloo...
Trending: colt's-foot (Tussilago farfara) — 214 observations this week
Colt's-foot is often one of the first flowers to push through bare ground in late winter, so spot...
Trending: Salmonberry (Rubus spectabilis) — 170 observations this week
Salmonberries ripen earlier than almost any other wild berry in spring, and tracking when and whe...
Trending: giant white fawn lily (Erythronium oregonum) — 169 observ...
If you walk wooded trails in Oregon, Washington, or British Columbia in spring, these striking wh...
Trending: western skunk cabbage (Lysichiton americanus) — 136 obser...
Skunk cabbage is one of the first wildflowers to appear each spring in Pacific Northwest wetlands...
Trending: common blue violet (Viola sororia) — 1091 observations this week
Common blue violet is a native wildflower that supports early-season pollinators and serves as th...
Trending: lesser celandine (Ficaria verna) — 812 observations this week
Lesser celandine is quietly taking over lawns, stream banks, and woodland gardens across the east...
Trending: Salmonberry (Rubus spectabilis) — 113 observations this week
Tracking when and where salmonberry blooms and fruits each year helps gardeners, foragers, and co...
Trending: Jack-in-the-Pulpit (Arisaema triphyllum) — 1360 observati...
Jack-in-the-Pulpit popping up in your local woodland trail or shaded garden right now means sprin...
Trending: wild geranium (Geranium maculatum) — 1212 observations this week
Wild geranium is blooming right now in woodland gardens and forest edges near you — spotting one ...
Trending: mayapple (Podophyllum peltatum) — 1049 observations this week
Mayapple carpets the forest floor of parks and woodlands you may already walk through each spring...
Trending: eastern poison ivy (Toxicodendron radicans) — 941 observa...
Poison ivy is probably already growing along the edges of your yard, favorite hiking trail, or ne...
Trending: yellow trout lily (Erythronium americanum) — 564 observat...
Yellow trout lily carpeting a woodland floor in April is one of the earliest signs that spring po...
Trending: red trillium (Trillium erectum) — 421 observations this week
Red trillium blooming in your local woodland right now is one of the clearest signals that spring...
Trending: bloodroot (Sanguinaria canadensis) — 310 observations this week
Bloodroot carpets forest floors in early spring before trees leaf out, and tracking its bloom tim...
Trending: Siberian squill (Scilla siberica) — 191 observations this week
Those pretty blue ground-cover flowers carpeting lawns and woodland edges right now may be Siberi...
eastern redbud (Cercis canadensis) observed in Westover Rd, Shippen...
Eastern redbud is one of the earliest native trees to bloom each spring, offering a burst of mage...
red columbine (Aquilegia canadensis) observed in Indian Trail, Davi...
Red columbine's distinctive red-and-yellow nodding flowers are one of the earliest spring nectar ...
mapleleaf viburnum (Viburnum acerifolium) observed in Tolland Count...
Mapleleaf viburnum is one of the few native shrubs that thrives in deep shade under mature trees,...
Trending: Redstem Stork's-bill (Erodium cicutarium) — 315 observati...
Redstem Stork's-bill is one of the most common weeds invading lawns, gardens, and parks across No...
Trending: common reed (Phragmites australis) — 59 observations this week
Common reed can aggressively take over wetlands, riverbanks, and even roadside ditches near your ...
Trending: large white trillium (Trillium grandiflorum) — 613 observ...
The trilliums blooming right now in forests near you are an early-warning signal for spring timin...
foxglove beardtongue (Penstemon digitalis) observed in Windber, PA, US
Foxglove beardtongue is one of the easiest native perennials to establish in a sunny border, and ...
Sacred Datura (Datura wrightii) observed in Mount Rainier Ct, Pleas...
Sacred Datura's large, white trumpet flowers open at dusk and are pollinated almost exclusively b...
Trending: Henderson's shooting star (Primula hendersonii) — 125 obs...
Spikes in citizen science observations help track whether beloved spring wildflowers are blooming...
black-eyed Susan (Rudbeckia hirta) observed in N Bowman Springs Rd,...
Black-eyed Susans blooming along roadsides in the DFW area are a cue that your summer pollinator ...
violet woodsorrel (Oxalis violacea) observed in Kentucky, US
Violet woodsorrel thriving in Kentucky meadows and open woodlands signals healthy native ground c...
Sweet scabious (Sixalix atropurpurea) observed in Arbor Hills Trail...
Sweet scabious blooming along a North Texas nature trail signals this drought-tolerant Mediterran...
blackroot (Pterocaulon pycnostachyum) observed in Hobe Sound
Blackroot thrives in the fire-maintained flatwoods and sandhills of Florida — spotting it in Hobe...
Trending: Virginia creeper (Parthenocissus quinquefolia) — 1496 obs...
Virginia creeper climbing your fence or brick wall is a powerhouse for local wildlife — its dark ...
wild potato vine (Ipomoea pandurata) observed in Cary
Wild potato vine's deep, starchy taproot — sometimes reaching 30 pounds — means it can survive dr...
bird's-foot trefoil (Lotus corniculatus) observed in Fresh Pond Gol...
Bird's-foot trefoil spreads quietly through lawns and golf courses, fixing nitrogen in the soil a...
roundleaf greenbrier (Smilax rotundifolia) observed in Marie Strese...
Roundleaf greenbrier's dense, thorny thickets in conservation areas like this one create the exac...
marsh calla (Calla palustris) observed in South Bristol, ME, US
Marsh calla is one of the few native aquatic aroids you can grow at the edge of a backyard pond —...
common bracken (Pteridium aquilinum) observed in Oregon City, OR 97045, USA
Common bracken spreading through a woodland edge or disturbed trail corridor can crowd out native...
Brazos rain-lily (Zephyranthes chlorosolen) observed in FM-833, Fai...
Brazos rain-lilies bloom almost magically within days of a summer rainstorm — knowing they're est...
Foxtail Barley (Hordeum jubatum) observed in Clareview-Station Dr N...
Foxtail Barley's silky, fox-tail seed heads look stunning in late summer but can work their way i...
tufted vetch (Vicia cracca) observed in Clareview-Station Dr NW, Ed...
Tufted vetch is quietly colonizing Edmonton's roadsides and vacant lots — and while it looks pret...
Practical lessons from microbiome citizen-science projects.
Every soil sample you or your neighbors submit to a community microbiome project shapes the basel...
lesser celandine (Ficaria verna) observed in Mill Neck, NY, USA
Lesser celandine spreads aggressively in early spring before native wildflowers emerge, and once ...
Curlyheads (Clematis ochroleuca) observed in Warrenton
Confirmed sightings of rare native plants like Curlyheads help conservationists and local gardene...
American pokeweed (Phytolacca americana) observed in Stoltje Dr, Co...
Pokeweed pushing up in a Conroe yard is a signal that disturbed soil nearby is recovering — it's ...
Persian silk tree (Albizia julibrissin) observed in Piedmont Park A...
Silk trees lining Atlanta's streets and parks are blooming proof that a tree originally from Iran...
Field madder (Sherardia arvensis) observed in Pullen Mill Rd, Culle...
Field madder creeps through lawns and garden edges so inconspicuously that most people never lear...
Marvel of Peru (Mirabilis jalapa) observed in Odessa, TX, USA
If Marvel of Peru is naturalizing in the Permian Basin's harsh alkaline soils, it could be a surp...
netted pawpaw (Asimina reticulata) observed in Gainesville
Netted pawpaw produces small edible fruits related to the common pawpaw, and knowing where it sur...
American pokeweed (Phytolacca americana) observed in Ferguson Rd, H...
American pokeweed's large, striking form and toxic berries make it a plant every backyard natural...
Fairy-slipper (Calypso bulbosa) observed in Skagit County, WA, USA
Fairy-slippers are one of the most delicate wild orchids in North America, and finding one in Ska...
Trending: Alfalfa (Medicago sativa) — 170 observations this week
Alfalfa is a cornerstone of both agriculture and backyard ecosystems — it feeds livestock, fixes ...
purple pitcher plant (Sarracenia purpurea) observed in Halifax, NS, CA
Carnivorous bog plants like the purple pitcher plant are sensitive indicators of wetland health, ...
Trending: Virginia creeper (Parthenocissus quinquefolia) — 2505 obs...
Virginia creeper is climbing the fence in your backyard right now — and knowing it from poison iv...
Trending: red trillium (Trillium erectum) — 642 observations this week
Red trillium blooms in the same shady forest understory patches where you might hike or hunt more...
river cane (Arundinaria gigantea) observed in Rue Brooklyn, Lake Ch...
River cane is one of the few bamboos native to North America and was once a cornerstone of Indige...
pigeonberry (Rivina humilis) observed in County Road 65A, Taft, TX, US
Pigeonberry's small coral-red berries light up shaded native gardens and are a magnet for songbir...
Greater celandine (Chelidonium majus) observed in Guelph, ON N1E 5X...
Greater celandine spreads aggressively along disturbed edges and fence lines — if you spot its de...
box elder (Acer negundo) observed in Western Ave, Green Bay, WI, US
Box elder is one of the few native trees that colonizes disturbed urban edges and floodplains whe...
upright prairie coneflower (Ratibida columnifera) observed in Tusco...
Upright prairie coneflower thrives in the dry, rocky soils most gardeners curse — spotting it nat...
Lilac chaste tree (Vitex agnus-castus) observed in Brookhouse Dr, S...
Lilac chaste tree thrives in hot, dry conditions and produces long lavender flower spikes that dr...
Sweet Woodruff (Galium odoratum) observed in Kitchener
Sweet Woodruff spreading through Kitchener's green spaces is worth knowing if you're planting a s...
lesser celandine (Ficaria verna) observed in Rahway River, Cranford, NJ, US
Lesser celandine spreads aggressively through stream corridors and can take over your local park ...
sideoats grama (Bouteloua curtipendula) observed in Nineveh Townshi...
Sideoats grama is one of the toughest native grasses you can plant for a low-water lawn alternati...
bird's-foot trefoil (Lotus corniculatus) observed in Wauwatosa
Bird's-foot trefoil creeping into Wauwatosa lawns and roadsides can outcompete native clovers and...
common selfheal (Prunella vulgaris) observed in N Oakwood Ave, Ocon...
Common selfheal growing in a lawn or sidewalk strip is one of the easiest medicinal wildflowers t...
whitemouth dayflower (Commelina erecta) observed in Shamrock Park a...
Next time you walk through a Florida park, look for the bright blue two-petaled flowers of whitem...
marginal wood fern (Dryopteris marginalis) observed in Wolf Grove R...
Marginal wood fern is one of the most shade-tolerant evergreen ferns for Canadian gardens — spott...
interrupted fern (Osmunda claytoniana) observed in SR-102, Bar Harb...
Interrupted fern is a reliable indicator of healthy, undisturbed woodland — spotting it on a trai...
Carolina rose (Rosa carolina) observed in Upton Cemetery Ln, Upton, KY, US
Carolina rose is a tough, drought-tolerant native shrub that supports pollinators and wildlife — ...
Trending: licorice fern (Polypodium glycyrrhiza) — 59 observations ...
Licorice fern grows on mossy rocks and tree trunks in forests and parks many people walk through ...
fireweed (Chamaenerion angustifolium) observed in Denali Park, AK, USA
Fireweed is one of the first plants to reclaim burned or disturbed ground in Alaska's national pa...
Broadleaf Sea Lettuce (Ulva lactuca) observed in Lahaina, HI, US
Tide-pooling or beachcombing near Lahaina, you may spot this vivid green seaweed clinging to rock...
garlic mustard (Alliaria petiolata) observed in Hidden Valley Rd, L...
Garlic mustard growing near your yard or local forest preserve releases chemicals into the soil t...
common blue violet (Viola sororia) observed in Peace St at Smallwoo...
Common blue violets popping up along Raleigh streets are a sign that native wildflowers can persi...
partridgeberry (Mitchella repens) observed in Riverbend Pkwy, Athen...
Partridgeberry carpets shaded woodland floors and its bright red berries feed birds and small mam...
Virginia bluebells (Mertensia virginica) observed in Castle Rock Ct...
Virginia bluebells are a beloved native spring wildflower that supports early pollinators like bu...
Greater celandine (Chelidonium majus) observed in New Salem
Greater celandine spreads readily into garden edges, roadsides, and woodland paths near homes, an...
Purple Phacelia (Phacelia bipinnatifida) observed in Payne St, Fran...
Purple Phacelia is a valuable native wildflower that attracts early-season pollinators like nativ...
white clover (Trifolium repens) observed in Murfreesboro, TN, USA
White clover spreading through your lawn is quietly fixing nitrogen from the air into the soil, d...
Pinxter Flower (Rhododendron periclymenoides) observed in Millersvi...
Pinxter Flower is a native wild azalea that supports early pollinators like queen bumblebees just...
coral honeysuckle (Lonicera sempervirens) observed in Taylor Oaks D...
Coral honeysuckle is a native alternative to the invasive Japanese honeysuckle, and knowing where...
Dakota mock vervain (Glandularia bipinnatifida) observed in Bexar C...
Tracking where native wildflowers like Dakota mock vervain are actually growing helps gardeners, ...
bristle thistle (Cirsium horridulum) observed in Boy Scout Road Boa...
Bristle thistle is a native wildflower that supports specialist bees, goldfinches, and monarch bu...
Trending: western sword fern (Polystichum munitum) — 53 observation...
Surge in documented sightings helps scientists track where this iconic fern is thriving — or pote...
lesser celandine (Ficaria verna) observed in Pinewick Rd, Ellicott ...
Lesser celandine can carpet your yard, garden beds, and nearby stream corridors every spring befo...
Virginia bluebells (Mertensia virginica) observed in Great Falls, VA, US
Tracking where native wildflowers like Virginia bluebells are blooming helps gardeners and conser...
common ivy (Hedera helix) observed in Harpers Ferry, WV 25425, USA
Common ivy can quietly take over your garden beds and nearby woodlands, smothering native wildflo...
bloodroot (Sanguinaria canadensis) observed in Aurora, OH, US
Tracking where native wildflowers like bloodroot still grow helps gardeners, conservationists, an...
Shepherd's-needle (Scandix pecten-veneris) observed in Barcelona, I...
Shepherd's-needle can quietly establish itself in garden beds, lawns, and sidewalk cracks near yo...
American sweetgum (Liquidambar styraciflua) observed in Wells Rd, F...
American sweetgum's spiky seed balls litter yards all winter, but those same balls are gathered b...
American beech (Fagus grandifolia) observed in Ice Age Trail, Casca...
American beech trees anchor forest ecosystems you hike through by producing beechnuts that feed d...
giant white fawn lily (Erythronium oregonum) observed in Skagit Cou...
Knowing exactly where giant white fawn lilies grow helps protect the shaded forest edges and mois...
Little Sweet Betsy (Trillium cuneatum) observed in Hilham
Tracking where native wildflowers like Little Sweet Betsy still grow helps conservationists and g...
Pacific Bleeding Heart (Dicentra formosa) observed in Main Trail, S...
Research-grade community sightings like this help build a real-time map of where native wildflowe...
coast live oak (Quercus agrifolia) observed in Camino De La Reina &...
Coast live oaks are keystone trees that support hundreds of species of birds, insects, and wildli...
partridgeberry (Mitchella repens) observed in Massachusetts, US
Citizen science observations like this help track where native woodland plants like partridgeberr...
maidenhair spleenwort (Asplenium trichomanes) observed in New York, US
Confirmed sightings like this help scientists track whether ferns and other shade-loving plants a...
arrowleaf balsamroot (Balsamorhiza sagittata) observed in S Elk Rid...
Arrowleaf balsamroot is a keystone native plant that supports pollinators like native bees and bu...
mountain laurel (Kalmia latifolia) observed in Pilot Mountain State...
Mountain laurel puts on one of the most spectacular late-spring flower shows of any native shrub ...
mayapple (Podophyllum peltatum) observed in St Clair Ave, Grosse Po...
Mayapple carpets woodland floors and produces a fruit edible when fully ripe — spotting it thrivi...
partridgeberry (Mitchella repens) observed in Massachusetts, US
Partridgeberry is a charming native groundcover that thrives in shady woodland gardens, stays gre...
mayapple (Podophyllum peltatum) observed in Long View, NC, US
Community-recorded sightings like this help scientists and conservationists track where native wi...
mayapple (Podophyllum peltatum) observed in R25M+R3 Riverside Park,...
Finding a native woodland plant like mayapple thriving in a busy city park shows that urban green...
bloodroot (Sanguinaria canadensis) observed in Greenville, OH, US
Every confirmed sighting of a native wildflower like bloodroot helps scientists and gardeners tra...
Stiff Dogwood (Cornus foemina) observed in Palmer Ranch, FL 34238, USA
Stiff Dogwood is a Florida-native shrub that supports local wildlife with its berry clusters, mak...
yellow trout lily (Erythronium americanum) observed in Aurora, OH, US
Yellow trout lily is a key early-spring wildflower that supports native pollinators emerging from...
mock strawberry (Potentilla indica) observed in Rowley Rd, Clarksvi...
Mock strawberry creeping through your lawn or garden bed is easy to overlook as a weed — but its ...
white clover (Trifolium repens) observed in Marcliff Rd, Rockville, MD, US
White clover growing in your lawn is quietly fixing nitrogen from the air into the soil — a free ...
Red-flowering Currant (Ribes sanguineum) observed in Whitaker Ponds...
Red-flowering Currant is a beloved native shrub you can grow in your own Pacific Northwest garden...
bluebead lily (Clintonia borealis) observed in Grand-Bouctouche, Ne...
Bluebead lily is a reliable indicator of healthy, undisturbed forest understory — spotting it in ...
Herb Robert (Geranium robertianum) observed in Oregon, US
Herb Robert is quietly spreading through Pacific Northwest gardens and forest edges, and once est...
Western Joshua Tree (Yucca brevifolia) observed in Desert Center, CA, US
Joshua Trees near Desert Center mark the southern edge of a shrinking range — knowing exactly whe...
milk thistle (Silybum marianum) observed in Santa Clara County, US-CA, US
Milk thistle spreads aggressively in disturbed soils and roadsides near your neighborhood, and if...
western skunk cabbage (Lysichiton americanus) observed in Bella Bel...
Western skunk cabbage is one of the first plants to bloom each spring in Pacific Northwest wetlan...
green false hellebore (Veratrum viride) observed in North Lawrence
Green false hellebore is highly toxic to humans and livestock, so knowing it grows in North Lawre...
golden Alexanders (Zizia aurea) observed in North Brunswick Townshi...
Golden Alexanders is one of the earliest spring bloomers for native bees and is a host plant for ...
Camphor (Camphora officinarum) observed in Central, LA, US
Camphor trees spreading through Louisiana neighborhoods can quietly crowd out native species whil...
Canadian wild ginger (Asarum canadense) observed in Mt Washington, ...
Canadian wild ginger growing in Cincinnati neighborhoods signals that patches of healthy, shaded ...
ribwort plantain (Plantago lanceolata) observed in Brookfield
Ribwort plantain growing along roadsides and lawns in Brookfield is one of the most underapprecia...
common milkweed (Asclepias syriaca) observed in Woodstock, VA 22664, USA
Common milkweed is the only plant monarch butterflies can lay their eggs on, so knowing where it ...
mayapple (Podophyllum peltatum) observed in Oxford Pl, Charlottesvi...
Mayapple patches like this one can quietly spread through your shaded garden beds each spring, of...
flowering dogwood (Cornus florida) observed in Alexandria
Research-grade iNaturalist observations like this one collectively help scientists track whether ...
Virginia sweetspire (Itea virginica) observed in Georgia Southern U...
Virginia sweetspire is a tough, deer-resistant native shrub with fragrant summer blooms and brill...
mayapple (Podophyllum peltatum) observed in Chipping Ct, Virginia B...
Mayapple is a native woodland wildflower that can signal the health of local ecosystems — spottin...
oakleaf fleabane (Erigeron quercifolius) observed in SW Sixth Ave, ...
Oakleaf fleabane is a pollinator-friendly native wildflower that can thrive in your yard or garde...
crispleaf roughmoss (Claopodium crispifolium) observed in Capital, ...
Mosses like this one form the living crust on garden walls, forest floors, and rocky outcrops tha...
twoleaf miterwort (Mitella diphylla) observed in Chickamauga, GA, US
Tracking where native wildflowers like twoleaf miterwort grow helps gardeners and conservationist...
flowering dogwood (Cornus florida) observed in Michael St, Jarvisbu...
Citizen-science sightings like this one build the long-term dataset that helps gardeners and cons...
Pacific trillium (Trillium ovatum) observed in Washington, US
Community observations like this one help scientists track where native wildflowers are thriving ...
American pokeweed (Phytolacca americana) observed in Tysons, VA, USA
American pokeweed can sprout uninvited in your backyard or garden beds, and every part of it is t...
Carolina snailseed (Nephroia carolina) observed in Garden Rd, Chatt...
Carolina snailseed is a tough, native vine that can fill a shady corner of your yard with lush fo...
black locust (Robinia pseudoacacia) observed in Fountainhead-Orchar...
Black locust spreads aggressively along roadsides and woodland edges near homes, outcompeting nat...
Nuttall's Thistle (Cirsium nuttallii) observed in Spencer Parrish R...
Nuttall's Thistle attracts native bees, butterflies, and goldfinches to Florida yards and roadsid...
white baneberry (Actaea pachypoda) observed in Chickamauga, GA, US
Tracking where native woodland plants like white baneberry are thriving helps conservationists an...
northern spicebush (Lindera benzoin) observed in Mill Neck, NY, USA
Northern spicebush is a keystone native shrub that supports spicebush swallowtail butterflies and...
eastern redcedar (Juniperus virginiana) observed in Long Island, Me...
Eastern redcedar is a resilient native evergreen that's increasingly common in yards and roadside...
Field madder (Sherardia arvensis) observed in Forsyth St, Monticell...
Field madder is a creeping weed that can quietly invade lawns, gardens, and roadsides near you — ...
Virginia pepperweed (Lepidium virginicum) observed in Kaelepulu Min...
Virginia pepperweed is quietly spreading through parks and gardens in Hawaii, and spotting it ear...
Jack-in-the-Pulpit (Arisaema triphyllum) observed in Grand River So...
Jack-in-the-Pulpit growing along the Grand River means native woodland wildflowers are holding on...
Madagascar Periwinkle (Catharanthus roseus) observed in Tortuga Tra...
Madagascar Periwinkle, a common garden plant in Florida, is also the source of vincristine and vi...
Florida Hedgenettle (Stachys floridana) observed in Central, LA, US
Florida Hedgenettle can quietly spread into your garden beds and lawn edges, so knowing it's esta...
Carolina Vetch (Vicia caroliniana) observed in Worthington Hills, K...
Carolina Vetch quietly enriches the soil in yards and wild edges near you by fixing nitrogen — ac...
sweetbay magnolia (Magnolia virginiana) observed in Knoxville
Sweetbay magnolia is a beautiful native tree you can actually grow in your own yard — it tolerate...
woodland stonecrop (Sedum ternatum) observed in Forest Giants Trail...
Woodland stonecrop thrives in the shaded, rocky spots many gardeners overlook, making it a low-ma...
Mealy Blue Sage (Salvia farinacea) observed in Austin
Mealy Blue Sage is a drought-tolerant native perennial that pollinators love, making it a smart, ...
crimson clover (Trifolium incarnatum) observed in Jasper, TN 37347, USA
Crimson clover fixes nitrogen in the soil, so spotting it growing in your region confirms it thri...
willow oak (Quercus phellos) observed in Peace St at Smallwood Dr, ...
Willow oaks lining Raleigh streets provide dense summer shade and drop small acorns that feed bir...
American pokeweed (Phytolacca americana) observed in Chesapeake
American pokeweed is a striking but highly toxic native plant that can appear in backyards, parks...
sea grape (Coccoloba uvifera) observed in S Atlantic Ave, New Smyrn...
Sea grape is one of the toughest salt-tolerant shrubs you can grow near the beach, and confirmed ...
chinkapin oak (Quercus muehlenbergii) observed in Anna, TX 75409, USA
Chinkapin oaks are excellent drought-tolerant shade trees for Texas gardens, and knowing they gro...
flowering dogwood (Cornus florida) observed in Maryland, US
Flowering dogwood is a beloved backyard tree whose spring bloom times are shifting with warming t...
American tuliptree (Liriodendron tulipifera) observed in Bentley Ct...
American tuliptrees are some of the tallest native trees in eastern North America and provide cri...
white clover (Trifolium repens) observed in Knoxville, TN, US
White clover in your lawn or local park is a living fertilizer — its roots host bacteria that pul...
slender vetch (Vicia ludoviciana) observed in Austin
Slender vetch is a native wildflower that fixes nitrogen in the soil, meaning its presence in urb...
Wild radish (Raphanus raphanistrum) observed in Santa Clara County,...
Wild radish can take over disturbed roadsides, farm edges, and open spaces in your neighborhood, ...
vanilla leaf (Achlys triphylla) observed in Selma, OR, US
Vanilla leaf carpets shaded forest floors in the Pacific Northwest and its presence signals a hea...
eastern redbud (Cercis canadensis) observed in Knoxville
Eastern redbuds are one of the first trees to bloom each spring, and tracking where and when they...
Red Clover (Trifolium pratense) observed in Jasper, TN 37347, USA
Red Clover growing near Jasper, TN feeds local pollinators like bumblebees and fixes nitrogen in ...
white clover (Trifolium repens) observed in Avondale Estates, GA, USA
White clover fixes nitrogen from the air directly into your lawn or garden soil, acting as a free...
black cherry (Prunus serotina) observed in Wildwood Dr SE, Huntsvil...
Black cherry is a native tree that produces fruit eaten by dozens of bird species and supports hu...
field peppergrass (Lepidium campestre) observed in Jefferson Townsh...
Field peppergrass can quietly colonize the edges of your vegetable garden or lawn, competing with...
great mullein (Verbascum thapsus) observed in Morewood Rd, Hardy, VA, US
Great mullein is a prolific colonizer of disturbed soils — roadsides, fields, and garden edges — ...
catchweed bedstraw (Galium aparine) observed in N Coleman St, Prosp...
Catchweed bedstraw spreads aggressively through gardens and natural areas, clinging to clothes, p...
red deadnettle (Lamium purpureum) observed in Lewisburg
Red deadnettle is one of the earliest spring bloomers to appear in gardens and lawns, meaning its...
Jack-in-the-Pulpit (Arisaema triphyllum) observed in Novelty, Russe...
Jack-in-the-Pulpit thrives in the shaded, moist woodland edges many gardeners overlook, making it...
common groundsel (Senecio vulgaris) observed in Long Island, Calver...
Common groundsel is a prolific weed that can quickly take over garden beds and is toxic to livest...
mock strawberry (Potentilla indica) observed in MD-423, Tracys Land...
Mock strawberry quietly spreads through lawns, gardens, and parks near you — and knowing where it...
Closterium acerosum (Closterium acerosum) observed in Southern Spri...
The tiny algae living in ponds and streams near your neighborhood are early-warning indicators of...
sweet alyssum (Lobularia maritima) observed in Santa Clara County, ...
Sweet alyssum spreading through Santa Clara County means this fragrant, low-growing groundcover i...
carpet bugle (Ajuga reptans) observed in Fremont Ave, Woodbine, NJ, US
Carpet bugle spreads quickly as a ground cover and can escape garden beds into local woodlands, s...
Christmas fern (Polystichum acrostichoides) observed in Oxford Pl, ...
Christmas fern is one of the toughest native evergreen ferns you can plant under trees in a shady...
carpet bugle (Ajuga reptans) observed in New Burlington, OH, USA
Carpet bugle can quietly take over garden beds and spread into nearby lawns or natural areas, so ...
Virginia creeper (Parthenocissus quinquefolia) observed in Hilham
Tracking where Virginia creeper grows helps gardeners and land managers understand its spread — i...
Lawn daisy (Bellis perennis) observed in Stonehenge Rd, Weston, CT, US
Lawn daisies popping up in Connecticut lawns signal how deeply this European wildflower has woven...
eastern white pine (Pinus strobus) observed in Mayflower Hill Dr, W...
Eastern white pine is one of the tallest trees you can grow in a northeastern yard, providing yea...
coconut palm (Cocos nucifera) observed in Oʻahu, Kailua, HI, US
Coconut palms lining Hawaiian beaches aren't native — tracking where they grow and thrive helps g...
Virginia creeper (Parthenocissus quinquefolia) observed in Oxford P...
Virginia creeper growing on your fence or up a tree trunk provides critical late-season berries f...
red deadnettle (Lamium purpureum) observed in Versailles, KY 40383, USA
Red deadnettle is one of the earliest spring bloomers in lawns and garden beds, providing crucial...
broadleaf cattail (Typha latifolia) observed in S Stockton Ave, Wen...
Cattails spreading into neighborhood wetlands and drainage areas can crowd out native plants, so ...