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Plants of Chicago, Illinois

The plants most often spotted near Chicago, ranked by recent research-grade observations.

82,780
recent observations
50
species listed
50
plants

Naturalists have logged 82,780 research-grade observations across the 50 most-recorded species near Chicago. The most frequently seen is the Common Milkweed, with 5,273 recorded sightings.

Most-observed plants near Chicago

Common Milkweed
Asclepias syriaca
5,273 observations
Virginia Bluebells
Mertensia virginica
2,550 observations
Wild Bergamot
Monarda fistulosa
2,494 observations
American Pokeweed
Phytolacca americana
2,448 observations
Mayapple
Podophyllum peltatum
2,427 observations
Prairie Trillium
Trillium recurvatum
2,301 observations
Ground-ivy
Glechoma hederacea
2,233 observations · iNaturalist
Virginia Springbeauty
Claytonia virginica
2,177 observations
White Snakeroot
Ageratina altissima
2,177 observations
Bittersweet Nightshade
Solanum dulcamara
2,145 observations
Lesser Celandine
Ficaria verna
2,093 observations · iNaturalist
Wild Geranium
Geranium maculatum
2,092 observations
Chicory
Cichorium intybus
1,984 observations
Butterfly Milkweed
Asclepias tuberosa
1,922 observations
Wild Carrot
Daucus carota
1,908 observations
Garlic Mustard
Alliaria petiolata
1,797 observations
Rattlesnake Master
Eryngium yuccifolium
1,610 observations
Grey-headed Coneflower
Ratibida pinnata
1,587 observations
Siberian Squill
Scilla siberica
1,582 observations · iNaturalist
Bloodroot
Sanguinaria canadensis
1,547 observations
New England Aster
Symphyotrichum novae-angliae
1,512 observations
Common Buckthorn
Rhamnus cathartica
1,500 observations
Cup Plant
Silphium perfoliatum
1,400 observations
Compass Plant
Silphium laciniatum
1,394 observations
Late Boneset
Eupatorium serotinum
1,382 observations · iNaturalist
White Fawnlily
Erythronium albidum
1,382 observations
American Black Elderberry
Sambucus canadensis
1,376 observations
Box Elder
Acer negundo
1,373 observations
Red Columbine
Aquilegia canadensis
1,370 observations
Great Blue Lobelia
Lobelia siphilitica
1,368 observations
Creeping Thistle
Cirsium arvense
1,364 observations
Red Clover
Trifolium pratense
1,351 observations
Cut-leaved Toothwort
Cardamine concatenata
1,334 observations
Swamp Milkweed
Asclepias incarnata
1,325 observations
Golden Alexanders
Zizia aurea
1,309 observations
Blue Phlox
Phlox divaricata
1,295 observations
Star-flowered Lily-of-the-valley
Maianthemum stellatum
1,279 observations
Jack-in-the-Pulpit
Arisaema triphyllum
1,263 observations
Virginia Waterleaf
Hydrophyllum virginianum
1,238 observations
Cutleaf Teasel
Dipsacus laciniatus
1,225 observations · iNaturalist
Prairie Dock
Silphium terebinthinaceum
1,205 observations
Tall Bellflower
Campanulastrum americanum
1,200 observations · iNaturalist
Obedient Plant
Physostegia virginiana
1,183 observations
White Clover
Trifolium repens
1,179 observations
Canadian Lousewort
Pedicularis canadensis
1,167 observations
Blue Vervain
Verbena hastata
1,105 observations
Large White Trillium
Trillium grandiflorum
1,104 observations
Ohio Spiderwort
Tradescantia ohiensis
1,090 observations
Purple Loosestrife
Lythrum salicaria
1,089 observations
Eastern Shooting Star
Primula meadia
1,071 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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