iNaturalist · 2026-04-24
Colt's-foot, a cheerful yellow wildflower that blooms before its leaves appear, is surging in citizen-science observations this week with 426 research-grade sightings recorded on iNaturalist — signaling that spring phenology is well underway across the Northern Hemisphere.
426 research-grade observations of colt's-foot were submitted to iNaturalist in a single week, placing it among the most observed plant species globally for that period.
Colt's-foot (Tussilago farfara) is one of the earliest spring bloomers in temperate regions, flowering before its leaves emerge — a phenological trait that makes it a reliable seasonal indicator.
The spike in observations reflects active citizen-science engagement with early spring phenology, providing real-time data on bloom timing across the Northern Hemisphere.