Species library
Field marks, habits, and camera tips for the wildlife that visits backyard habitats.
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
Lythrum salicaria
A striking wetland perennial, purple loosestrife is known for its towering spikes of vivid magenta flowers and its co...
Plants
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
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
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
Cortaderia jubata
A towering giant of the grass world, Purple Pampas Grass commands attention with its massive, violet-tinted plumes th...
Plants
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
Aristida purpurea
A shimmering jewel of the dry prairie, Purple Threeawn transforms backyards into a sea of swaying burgundy. Its iconi...
Plants
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
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
Sambucus racemosa
A vibrant early-summer beacon for wildlife, the red-berried elder transforms backyards into a bustling avian buffet w...
Plants
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
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
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
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
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
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
Crassocephalum crepidioides
A resilient traveler from Africa, the redflower ragleaf is a striking succulent herb known for its nodding crimson bl...
Plants
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
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
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
Carex remota
Elegant, arching, and perfectly suited for the shadows, the Remote Sedge is a masterpiece of woodland architecture. I...
Plants
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
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
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
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
Carex rosea
A resilient, star-shaped sedge that brings year-round green to the deepest backyard shadows.
Plants
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
Poa trivialis
A resilient, shade-loving grass that creates soft, light-green carpets in the dampest corners of your yard. Discover ...
Plants
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
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
Carex saxatilis
A hardy survivor of the frozen north, the russet sedge transforms soggy tundras into landscapes of deep chocolate and...
Plants
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
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
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
Stenotaphrum secundatum
The thick, emerald carpet of the coastal South, Saint Augustine grass is a hardy survivor that thrives where other gr...
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