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Plants of Great Smoky Mountains National Park

The plants most often spotted in Great Smoky Mountains, ranked by recent research-grade observations.

53,358
recent observations
50
species listed
50
plants

Naturalists have logged 53,358 research-grade observations across the 50 most-recorded species in Great Smoky Mountains. The most frequently seen is the Showy Orchis, with 1,793 recorded sightings.

Rarer finds confirmed in Great Smoky Mountains include Spotted Wintergreen - uncommon enough that a sighting is worth logging.

Spotted Wintergreen

Most-observed plants in Great Smoky Mountains

Showy Orchis
Galearis spectabilis
1,793 observations · iNaturalist
Great Rhododendron
Rhododendron maximum
1,785 observations
Partridgeberry
Mitchella repens
1,752 observations
Mountain Laurel
Kalmia latifolia
1,676 observations
Christmas Fern
Polystichum acrostichoides
1,632 observations
Galax
Galax urceolata
1,560 observations · iNaturalist
Downy Rattlesnake Plantain
Goodyera pubescens
1,485 observations
American Cancer-root
Conopholis americana
1,477 observations
Dwarf Crested Iris
Iris cristata
1,460 observations
Scarlet Beebalm
Monarda didyma
1,282 observations
Large White Trillium
Trillium grandiflorum
1,274 observations
Solomon's Plume
Maianthemum racemosum
1,250 observations
Mountain Doghobble
Leucothoe fontanesiana
1,250 observations
Red Trillium
Trillium erectum
1,249 observations
Woodland Stonecrop
Sedum ternatum
1,230 observations
Yellow Wakerobin
Trillium luteum
1,188 observations
Wild Geranium
Geranium maculatum
1,146 observations
American Tuliptree
Liriodendron tulipifera
1,115 observations
Thyme-leaved Bluet
Houstonia serpyllifolia
1,040 observations · iNaturalist
Cucumber Root
Medeola virginiana
1,038 observations
Rue Anemone
Thalictrum thalictroides
1,019 observations
Common Selfheal
Prunella vulgaris
1,006 observations · iNaturalist
Strawberry Bush
Euonymus americanus
1,003 observations · iNaturalist
Sharp-lobed Hepatica
Hepatica acutiloba
998 observations · iNaturalist
Striped Wintergreen
Chimaphila maculata
983 observations
Ghost Pipe
Monotropa uniflora
981 observations
Hobblebush
Viburnum lantanoides
979 observations · iNaturalist
Eastern Hemlock
Tsuga canadensis
978 observations
Twoleaf Miterwort
Mitella diphylla
958 observations
Striped Maple
Acer pensylvanicum
955 observations
Carolina Sweetshrub
Calycanthus floridus
944 observations · iNaturalist
Fringed Phacelia
Phacelia fimbriata
937 observations · iNaturalist
Canadian Lousewort
Pedicularis canadensis
883 observations
Shining Firmoss
Huperzia lucidula
872 observations
Pale Jewelweed
Impatiens pallida
860 observations
Northern Maidenhair Fern
Adiantum pedatum
846 observations
Cutleaf Coneflower
Rudbeckia laciniata
840 observations
Pink Lady's Slipper
Cypripedium acaule
827 observations
Mayapple
Podophyllum peltatum
787 observations
Painted Trillium
Trillium undulatum
778 observations
Red Clover
Trifolium pratense
764 observations
Creeping Phlox
Phlox stolonifera
764 observations · iNaturalist
Lettuceleaf Saxifrage
Micranthes micranthidifolia
747 observations · iNaturalist
Bloodroot
Sanguinaria canadensis
742 observations
White Baneberry
Actaea pachypoda
740 observations
Fire Pink
Silene virginica
736 observations
Fraser Fir
Abies fraseri
717 observations · iNaturalist
Star Chickweed
Stellaria pubera
682 observations · iNaturalist
Canada Violet
Viola canadensis
676 observations
Common Jewelweed
Impatiens capensis
674 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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