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Plants of Iowa

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

71,027
recent observations
50
species listed
50
plants

Naturalists have logged 71,027 research-grade observations across the 50 most-recorded species in Iowa. The most frequently seen is the Common Milkweed, with 3,834 recorded sightings.

Most-observed plants in Iowa

Common Milkweed
Asclepias syriaca
3,834 observations
Wild Bergamot
Monarda fistulosa
2,329 observations
Tall Bellflower
Campanulastrum americanum
2,256 observations · iNaturalist
Amur Honeysuckle
Lonicera maackii
2,091 observations
Ground-ivy
Glechoma hederacea
2,007 observations · iNaturalist
American Pokeweed
Phytolacca americana
1,964 observations
White Snakeroot
Ageratina altissima
1,879 observations
Garlic Mustard
Alliaria petiolata
1,860 observations
Dutchman's Breeches
Dicentra cucullaria
1,836 observations
Wild Carrot
Daucus carota
1,765 observations
Red Clover
Trifolium pratense
1,732 observations
Bloodroot
Sanguinaria canadensis
1,668 observations
Mayapple
Podophyllum peltatum
1,663 observations
Great Mullein
Verbascum thapsus
1,645 observations
Butterfly Milkweed
Asclepias tuberosa
1,625 observations
Hoary Vervain
Verbena stricta
1,615 observations
Partridge Pea
Chamaecrista fasciculata
1,517 observations
Grey-headed Coneflower
Ratibida pinnata
1,447 observations
Black-eyed Susan
Rudbeckia hirta
1,407 observations
Dame's Rocket
Hesperis matronalis
1,376 observations · iNaturalist
Blue Phlox
Phlox divaricata
1,373 observations
Purple Crownvetch
Securigera varia
1,366 observations · iNaturalist
Virginia Springbeauty
Claytonia virginica
1,359 observations
Jack-in-the-Pulpit
Arisaema triphyllum
1,352 observations
Great Blue Lobelia
Lobelia siphilitica
1,349 observations
Carolina Horsenettle
Solanum carolinense
1,330 observations
White Clover
Trifolium repens
1,325 observations
Virginia Waterleaf
Hydrophyllum virginianum
1,307 observations
Giant Ragweed
Ambrosia trifida
1,265 observations
Bird's-foot Trefoil
Lotus corniculatus
1,253 observations · iNaturalist
Virginia Bluebells
Mertensia virginica
1,250 observations
Red Columbine
Aquilegia canadensis
1,205 observations
Black Raspberry
Rubus occidentalis
1,194 observations
American Germander
Teucrium canadense
1,139 observations · iNaturalist
Rattlesnake Master
Eryngium yuccifolium
1,112 observations
Cup Plant
Silphium perfoliatum
1,082 observations
Common Hackberry
Celtis occidentalis
1,033 observations
Wild Geranium
Geranium maculatum
1,028 observations
Leadplant
Amorpha canescens
1,020 observations
Compass Plant
Silphium laciniatum
1,016 observations
Sharp-lobed Hepatica
Hepatica acutiloba
1,015 observations · iNaturalist
Common Motherwort
Leonurus cardiaca
998 observations · iNaturalist
Eastern Redcedar
Juniperus virginiana
991 observations
Swamp Milkweed
Asclepias incarnata
955 observations
Velvetleaf
Abutilon theophrasti
946 observations
Eastern Poison Ivy
Toxicodendron radicans
866 observations
Field Penny-cress
Thlaspi arvense
858 observations · iNaturalist
Creeping Thistle
Cirsium arvense
851 observations
Prairie Trillium
Trillium recurvatum
843 observations
Box Elder
Acer negundo
830 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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