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Plants of Chesapeake & Ohio Canal National Historical Park

The plants most often spotted in C&O Canal, ranked by recent research-grade observations.

115,133
recent observations
50
species listed
50
plants

Naturalists have logged 115,133 research-grade observations across the 50 most-recorded species in C&O Canal. The most frequently seen is the Virginia Springbeauty, with 4,235 recorded sightings.

Most-observed plants in C&O Canal

Virginia Springbeauty
Claytonia virginica
4,235 observations
Garlic Mustard
Alliaria petiolata
3,878 observations
Virginia Bluebells
Mertensia virginica
3,684 observations
Christmas Fern
Polystichum acrostichoides
3,666 observations
Mayapple
Podophyllum peltatum
3,663 observations
Wineberry
Rubus phoenicolasius
3,575 observations
Amur Honeysuckle
Lonicera maackii
3,545 observations
Common Pawpaw
Asimina triloba
3,358 observations
American Pokeweed
Phytolacca americana
3,196 observations
Lesser Celandine
Ficaria verna
3,178 observations · iNaturalist
American Tuliptree
Liriodendron tulipifera
2,965 observations
Bloodroot
Sanguinaria canadensis
2,686 observations
Eastern Poison Ivy
Toxicodendron radicans
2,667 observations
Northern Spicebush
Lindera benzoin
2,645 observations
Ground-ivy
Glechoma hederacea
2,644 observations · iNaturalist
Multiflora Rose
Rosa multiflora
2,604 observations
Box Elder
Acer negundo
2,500 observations
Eastern Skunk Cabbage
Symplocarpus foetidus
2,491 observations
Cut-leaved Toothwort
Cardamine concatenata
2,471 observations
Common Milkweed
Asclepias syriaca
2,348 observations
Carolina Horsenettle
Solanum carolinense
2,343 observations
Virginia Creeper
Parthenocissus quinquefolia
2,278 observations
Wingstem
Verbesina alternifolia
2,157 observations
American Jumpseed
Persicaria virginiana
2,155 observations · iNaturalist
Mock Strawberry
Potentilla indica
2,051 observations · iNaturalist
American Sycamore
Platanus occidentalis
2,032 observations
Porcelain Berry
Ampelopsis glandulosa
2,028 observations · iNaturalist
American Holly
Ilex opaca
1,968 observations
Jack-in-the-Pulpit
Arisaema triphyllum
1,925 observations
Common Jewelweed
Impatiens capensis
1,913 observations
American Beech
Fagus grandifolia
1,866 observations
Red Deadnettle
Lamium purpureum
1,788 observations · iNaturalist
Star Chickweed
Stellaria pubera
1,735 observations · iNaturalist
Blue Mistflower
Conoclinium coelestinum
1,728 observations
Japanese Barberry
Berberis thunbergii
1,719 observations · iNaturalist
Eastern Redbud
Cercis canadensis
1,709 observations
Japanese Honeysuckle
Lonicera japonica
1,709 observations
Yellow Trout Lily
Erythronium americanum
1,698 observations
Sensitive Fern
Onoclea sensibilis
1,692 observations
Blue Phlox
Phlox divaricata
1,621 observations
Beefsteak Plant
Perilla frutescens
1,619 observations · iNaturalist
Mountain Laurel
Kalmia latifolia
1,568 observations
Flowering Dogwood
Cornus florida
1,522 observations
Japanese Stiltgrass
Microstegium vimineum
1,505 observations · iNaturalist
Low Smartweed
Persicaria longiseta
1,500 observations · iNaturalist
Chicory
Cichorium intybus
1,497 observations
Rue Anemone
Thalictrum thalictroides
1,480 observations
Common Ivy
Hedera helix
1,461 observations
Tree-of-heaven
Ailanthus altissima
1,444 observations
White Clover
Trifolium repens
1,423 observations

Built from recent research-grade iNaturalist observations. Identifications are community-sourced and may occasionally be wrong, and the ranking reflects where people record and photograph wildlife, so a species seen often here is not necessarily rare elsewhere. Some plants and animals are only out in certain seasons. Treat this as a lively snapshot of what people are finding, not a formal checklist.

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