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Plants of Colorado

The plants most often spotted in Colorado, ranked by recent research-grade observations.

258,647
recent observations
50
species listed
50
plants

Naturalists have logged 258,647 research-grade observations across the 50 most-recorded species in Colorado. The most frequently seen is the Great Mullein, with 10,410 recorded sightings.

Rarer finds confirmed in Colorado include Nylon Hedgehog Cactus - uncommon enough that a sighting is worth logging.

Nylon Hedgehog Cactus

Most-observed plants in Colorado

Great Mullein
Verbascum thapsus
10,410 observations
Blue Columbine
Aquilegia coerulea
10,361 observations
Showy Milkweed
Asclepias speciosa
9,884 observations
Fireweed
Chamaenerion angustifolium
8,234 observations · iNaturalist
Great Plains Yucca
Yucca glauca
8,026 observations
Quaking Aspen
Populus tremuloides
7,388 observations
Lanceleaf Stonecrop
Sedum lanceolatum
7,234 observations · iNaturalist
Creeping Mahonia
Berberis repens
7,206 observations · iNaturalist
Rocky Mountains Ponderosa Pine
Pinus scopulorum
7,071 observations · iNaturalist
Rubber Rabbitbrush
Ericameria nauseosa
7,034 observations · iNaturalist
Field Bindweed
Convolvulus arvensis
6,664 observations
Plains Pricklypear
Opuntia polyacantha
6,359 observations
Sulfur Buckwheat
Eriogonum umbellatum
6,121 observations
Common Yarrow
Achillea millefolium
6,007 observations
Prairie Pasqueflower
Pulsatilla nuttalliana
5,719 observations · iNaturalist
Gunnison's Mariposa Lily
Calochortus gunnisonii
5,665 observations · iNaturalist
Scarlet Globemallow
Sphaeralcea coccinea
5,598 observations
Common Starlily
Leucocrinum montanum
5,243 observations · iNaturalist
Whipple's Penstemon
Penstemon whippleanus
5,234 observations · iNaturalist
Chokecherry
Prunus virginiana
4,987 observations
Scarlet Gilia
Ipomopsis aggregata
4,929 observations
Mountain Ball Cactus
Pediocactus simpsonii
4,830 observations · iNaturalist
Alderleaf Mountain Mahogany
Cercocarpus montanus
4,808 observations · iNaturalist
Western Harebell
Campanula petiolata
4,779 observations · iNaturalist
Monument Plant
Frasera speciosa
4,777 observations · iNaturalist
Dotted Gayfeather
Liatris punctata
4,752 observations · iNaturalist
Redstem Stork's-bill
Erodium cicutarium
4,589 observations · iNaturalist
Musk Thistle
Carduus nutans
4,493 observations
Front Range Beardtongue
Penstemon virens
4,461 observations · iNaturalist
Elephant's-Head Lousewort
Pedicularis groenlandica
4,024 observations
Shrubby Cinquefoil
Dasiphora fruticosa
4,009 observations
Bearberry
Arctostaphylos uva-ursi
3,901 observations
Lambert's Locoweed
Oxytropis lambertii
3,900 observations
Common Juniper
Juniperus communis
3,861 observations
Common Cowparsnip
Heracleum maximum
3,768 observations
Fringed Sagebrush
Artemisia frigida
3,687 observations · iNaturalist
Rocky Mountain Beeplant
Cleomella serrulata
3,677 observations · iNaturalist
Western Spiderwort
Tradescantia occidentalis
3,671 observations
Western Wallflower
Erysimum capitatum
3,642 observations · iNaturalist
Creeping Thistle
Cirsium arvense
3,608 observations
Balkan Toadflax
Linaria dalmatica
3,584 observations · iNaturalist
Wax Currant
Ribes cereum
3,554 observations · iNaturalist
Yellow Sweetclover
Melilotus officinalis
3,547 observations
Thistle Poppy
Argemone polyanthemos
3,466 observations · iNaturalist
Green-flower Hedgehog Cactus
Echinocereus viridiflorus
3,354 observations
Upright Prairie Coneflower
Ratibida columnifera
3,340 observations
Twinberry Honeysuckle
Lonicera involucrata
3,313 observations
Rocky Mountain Juniper
Juniperus scopulorum
3,311 observations
Pinewoods Geranium
Geranium caespitosum
3,293 observations · iNaturalist
American Bistort
Bistorta bistortoides
3,274 observations · iNaturalist

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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