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Plants of South Dakota

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

31,241
recent observations
50
species listed
50
plants

Naturalists have logged 31,241 research-grade observations across the 50 most-recorded species in South Dakota. The most frequently seen is the Hoary Vervain, with 1,247 recorded sightings.

Most-observed plants in South Dakota

Hoary Vervain
Verbena stricta
1,247 observations
Great Mullein
Verbascum thapsus
1,097 observations
Leadplant
Amorpha canescens
1,070 observations
Rocky Mountains Ponderosa Pine
Pinus scopulorum
994 observations · iNaturalist
Plains Pricklypear
Opuntia polyacantha
989 observations
Common Milkweed
Asclepias syriaca
978 observations
Great Plains Yucca
Yucca glauca
945 observations
Upright Prairie Coneflower
Ratibida columnifera
943 observations
Wild Bergamot
Monarda fistulosa
874 observations
Scarlet Globemallow
Sphaeralcea coccinea
860 observations
Field Bindweed
Convolvulus arvensis
849 observations
Smooth Brome
Bromus inermis
817 observations
Dame's Rocket
Hesperis matronalis
768 observations · iNaturalist
Creeping Thistle
Cirsium arvense
753 observations
Curlycup Gumweed
Grindelia squarrosa
721 observations
Showy Milkweed
Asclepias speciosa
702 observations
Yellow Sweetclover
Melilotus officinalis
688 observations
Large-flowered Beardtongue
Penstemon grandiflorus
654 observations
Bur Oak
Quercus macrocarpa
652 observations
Yellow Salsify
Tragopogon dubius
611 observations · iNaturalist
Black-eyed Susan
Rudbeckia hirta
600 observations
Narrow-leaved Purple Coneflower
Echinacea angustifolia
595 observations
Prairie Pasqueflower
Pulsatilla nuttalliana
594 observations · iNaturalist
Chokecherry
Prunus virginiana
593 observations
Wild Licorice
Glycyrrhiza lepidota
571 observations · iNaturalist
Big Bluestem
Andropogon gerardi
556 observations
Eastern Cottonwood
Populus deltoides
549 observations
Common Yarrow
Achillea millefolium
519 observations
Silvery Scurfpea
Pediomelum argophyllum
511 observations · iNaturalist
Fireweed
Chamaenerion angustifolium
496 observations · iNaturalist
Western Snowberry
Symphoricarpos occidentalis
475 observations · iNaturalist
Star-flowered Lily-of-the-valley
Maianthemum stellatum
466 observations
Hound's-tongue
Cynoglossum officinale
461 observations · iNaturalist
Snow-on-the-mountain
Euphorbia marginata
451 observations
Catnip
Nepeta cataria
439 observations · iNaturalist
Red Clover
Trifolium pratense
435 observations
Dotted Gayfeather
Liatris punctata
432 observations · iNaturalist
Golden Bean
Thermopsis rhombifolia
428 observations
Western Harebell
Campanula petiolata
425 observations · iNaturalist
Fringed Sagebrush
Artemisia frigida
423 observations · iNaturalist
Purple Prairie Clover
Dalea purpurea
422 observations
Western Poison Ivy
Toxicodendron rydbergii
414 observations · iNaturalist
Woodland Pinedrops
Pterospora andromedea
410 observations · iNaturalist
Brittle Pricklypear
Opuntia fragilis
404 observations · iNaturalist
Musk Thistle
Carduus nutans
400 observations
Box Elder
Acer negundo
398 observations
Prairie Rose
Rosa arkansana
395 observations · iNaturalist
Crested Wheatgrass
Agropyron cristatum
392 observations · iNaturalist
Alfalfa
Medicago sativa
391 observations · iNaturalist
Sideoats Grama
Bouteloua curtipendula
384 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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