Species library

Field marks, habits, and camera tips for the wildlife that visits backyard habitats.

397–432 of 583 species

purple coneflower

purple coneflower

Echinacea purpurea

A champion of the American prairie, the purple coneflower is a magnet for butterflies and songbirds alike. With its s...

Plants
purple loosestrife

purple loosestrife

Lythrum salicaria

A striking wetland perennial, purple loosestrife is known for its towering spikes of vivid magenta flowers and its co...

Plants
Purple Lovegrass

Purple Lovegrass

Eragrostis spectabilis

A shimmering magenta mist that dances in the late summer breeze, Purple Lovegrass is the 'hidden gem' of the native p...

Plants
Purple moor grass

Purple moor grass

Molinia caerulea

A structural masterpiece of the wild moors, this grass transforms from lush summer green to deep purple plumes and ra...

Plants
Purple nutsedge

Purple nutsedge

Cyperus rotundus

Meet the 'world's worst weed'—a master of survival that builds a secret underground empire. Purple Nutsedge is a fasc...

Plants
Purple Pampas Grass

Purple Pampas Grass

Cortaderia jubata

A towering giant of the grass world, Purple Pampas Grass commands attention with its massive, violet-tinted plumes th...

Plants
purple sage

purple sage

Salvia leucophylla

A fragrant icon of the California coast, Purple Sage transforms dry hillsides into a shimmering silver landscape fill...

Plants
Purple Threeawn

Purple Threeawn

Aristida purpurea

A shimmering jewel of the dry prairie, Purple Threeawn transforms backyards into a sea of swaying burgundy. Its iconi...

Plants
pussy willow

pussy willow

Salix discolor

The American pussy willow is the ultimate sign that winter is losing its grip. Its velvety catkins provide a critical...

Plants
Pyrenean Sedge

Pyrenean Sedge

Carex pyrenaica

A resilient specialist of the world's highest peaks, the Pyrenean Sedge thrives in the shadow of lingering snowbanks....

Plants
red-berried elder

red-berried elder

Sambucus racemosa

A vibrant early-summer beacon for wildlife, the red-berried elder transforms backyards into a bustling avian buffet w...

Plants
Red Clover

Red Clover

Trifolium pratense

The backbone of a healthy meadow, Red Clover is more than just a wildflower—it's a nitrogen-fixing powerhouse and a f...

Plants
red deadnettle

red deadnettle

Lamium purpureum

The early-bird of the backyard world, Red Deadnettle paints the spring landscape in shades of violet and crimson. Thi...

Plants
Red Heath

Red Heath

Erica coccinea

A vibrant icon of the South African fynbos, the Red Heath dazzles with its drooping tubular bells and serves as a vit...

Plants
red mangrove

red mangrove

Rhizophora mangle

Meet the 'walking tree' of the coast. The red mangrove is a resilient architect of the shoreline, using its iconic st...

Plants
red osier dogwood

red osier dogwood

Cornus sericea

A champion of the winter landscape, the red osier dogwood offers a fiery burst of color against the snow while servin...

Plants
red raspberry

red raspberry

Rubus idaeus

A crown jewel of the backyard garden, the Red Raspberry is a powerhouse of nutrition for both humans and wildlife. It...

Plants
redflower ragleaf

redflower ragleaf

Crassocephalum crepidioides

A resilient traveler from Africa, the redflower ragleaf is a striking succulent herb known for its nodding crimson bl...

Plants
Redroot Amaranth

Redroot Amaranth

Amaranthus retroflexus

The Redroot Amaranth is a hardy survivor and a backyard bird feeder designed by nature. With its striking pink roots ...

Plants
redtop

redtop

Agrostis gigantea

A hardy, rhizomatous grass that paints summer meadows with a shimmering wash of reddish-purple. Redtop is the unsung ...

Plants
reed canary grass

reed canary grass

Phalaris arundinacea

A towering presence in the wetlands, reed canary grass creates lush, waving meadows that define the water's edge. Its...

Plants
Remote Sedge

Remote Sedge

Carex remota

Elegant, arching, and perfectly suited for the shadows, the Remote Sedge is a masterpiece of woodland architecture. I...

Plants
rice cutgrass

rice cutgrass

Leersia oryzoides

Armed with razor-sharp edges and a resilient spirit, rice cutgrass is a wetland powerhouse. This native grass provide...

Plants
river mangrove

river mangrove

Aegiceras corniculatum

Meet the 'goat's horn' of the coastline, a hardy mangrove species that excretes salt through its leaves and produces ...

Plants
river oats

river oats

Chasmanthium latifolium

A graceful woodland native known for its unique 'fish-like' seed heads that dance in the breeze. River oats bring yea...

Plants
riverbank grape

riverbank grape

Vitis riparia

A powerhouse of the North American landscape, the riverbank grape is a fast-growing vine that provides both a lush gr...

Plants
rosy sedge

rosy sedge

Carex rosea

A resilient, star-shaped sedge that brings year-round green to the deepest backyard shadows.

Plants
Rough Fescue

Rough Fescue

Festuca hallii

The backbone of the northern prairie, Rough Fescue is a hardy perennial bunchgrass that provides vital habitat and st...

Plants
Rough Meadow-grass

Rough Meadow-grass

Poa trivialis

A resilient, shade-loving grass that creates soft, light-green carpets in the dampest corners of your yard. Discover ...

Plants
Royal Heath

Royal Heath

Erica adelopetala

A rare crown jewel of the Cape Floristic Region, the Royal Heath dazzles with waxy crimson tubes designed for the bea...

Plants
rubber tree

rubber tree

Hevea brasiliensis

The source of the world's natural rubber, this Amazonian giant is famous for its 'bleeding' bark and exploding seed p...

Plants
russet sedge

russet sedge

Carex saxatilis

A hardy survivor of the frozen north, the russet sedge transforms soggy tundras into landscapes of deep chocolate and...

Plants
Russian knapweed

Russian knapweed

Rhaponticum repens

A resilient and aggressive perennial, Russian knapweed is famous for its pearly-tipped flowers and its ability to out...

Plants
rye

rye

Secale cereale

The hardiest of the cereal grains, rye brings a touch of the rolling prairie to your backyard. Whether as a winter co...

Plants
Sacred Lotus

Sacred Lotus

Nelumbo nucifera

An ancient symbol of purity rising from the mud, the Sacred Lotus is a marvel of natural engineering with self-cleani...

Plants
Saint Augustine grass

Saint Augustine grass

Stenotaphrum secundatum

The thick, emerald carpet of the coastal South, Saint Augustine grass is a hardy survivor that thrives where other gr...

Plants

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