Species library

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

73–108 of 583 species

broadleaf cattail

broadleaf cattail

Typha latifolia

The iconic architect of the marsh, the broadleaf cattail is more than just a plant—it's a bustling wildlife skyscrape...

Plants
Broom Snakeweed

Broom Snakeweed

Gutierrezia sarothrae

A hardy, golden-flowered subshrub that defines the rugged beauty of the American West. Broom Snakeweed provides a vit...

Plants
Brown-spined Pricklypear

Brown-spined Pricklypear

Opuntia phaeacantha

A resilient desert architect, the Brown-spined Pricklypear provides vibrant spring blooms and essential sanctuary for...

Plants
Brush Cherry

Brush Cherry

Syzygium paniculatum

A vibrant Australian rainforest native, the Brush Cherry is a wildlife magnet famous for its glossy evergreen leaves ...

Plants
buffalograss

buffalograss

Bouteloua dactyloides

The resilient heart of the American prairie, Buffalograss is a tough, low-growing native that creates a soft, drought...

Plants
bulbous buttercup

bulbous buttercup

Ranunculus bulbosus

A golden herald of spring, the bulbous buttercup lights up meadows with its waxy, sun-tracking blooms and unique down...

Plants
Bull Thistle

Bull Thistle

Cirsium vulgare

The Bull Thistle is a rugged and beautiful survivor, famous as the national emblem of Scotland and beloved by backyar...

Plants
Bush Penstemon

Bush Penstemon

Penstemon fruticosus

A resilient mountain beauty that brings a splash of purple to the Pacific Northwest’s rocky terrains. This woody pere...

Plants
cabbage, broccoli, and allies

cabbage, broccoli, and allies

Brassica oleracea

The ultimate garden chameleon, Brassica oleracea is the ancestor of everything from kale to cauliflower. This resilie...

Plants
calico aster

calico aster

Symphyotrichum lateriflorum

A late-blooming pollinator magnet, the calico aster is famous for its 'lateriflorum' growth—clusters of white flowers...

Plants
California barley

California barley

Hordeum californicum

A graceful, tufted perennial bunchgrass native to the golden hills and coastal prairies of the West. California barle...

Plants
Camphor

Camphor

Camphora officinarum

A majestic East Asian evergreen famous for its aromatic wood and cooling canopy. This architectural giant is a sanctu...

Plants
Canada clearweed

Canada clearweed

Pilea pumila

Meet the translucent wonder of the forest floor. Canada clearweed is a smooth, glass-like member of the nettle family...

Plants
Canada wild rye

Canada wild rye

Elymus canadensis

Defined by its elegant, nodding seed heads and shaggy appearance, Canada wild rye is a cornerstone of the North Ameri...

Plants
canadian bluejoint

canadian bluejoint

Calamagrostis canadensis

A cornerstone of North American wetlands, Canadian Bluejoint adds a graceful, shimmering blue-green movement to any l...

Plants
Cape Honeysuckle

Cape Honeysuckle

Tecomaria capensis

A vibrant, nectar-rich powerhouse from Southern Africa that transforms any backyard into a bustling hub for hummingbi...

Plants
Cardinal's guard

Cardinal's guard

Pachystachys coccinea

A scarlet beacon for hummingbirds, the Cardinal's guard is a stunning tropical shrub that transforms any garden into ...

Plants
carpet bugle

carpet bugle

Ajuga reptans

A lush, spreading groundcover that paints the forest floor in shades of deep blue and bronze. Carpet bugle is a polli...

Plants
catchweed bedstraw

catchweed bedstraw

Galium aparine

The original inspiration for Velcro, Catchweed bedstraw is a master of mobility in the plant world. Watch it scramble...

Plants
cattail sedge

cattail sedge

Carex typhina

A hidden gem of the wetlands, the cattail sedge stands out with its unique, club-like spikes and lush green tufts. Th...

Plants
Celandine Poppy

Celandine Poppy

Chelidonium diphyllum

A golden beacon of the spring woodland, the Celandine Poppy carpets forest floors with brilliant yellow blooms and di...

Plants
Celery

Celery

Apium graveolens

A crisp garden staple with ancient roots, Celery is more than just a vegetable—it's a vital host for beautiful butter...

Plants
Centipede Grass

Centipede Grass

Eremochloa ophiuroides

The ultimate 'lazy man's grass,' this hardy perennial creates a lush, apple-green carpet that thrives where other pla...

Plants
Cheatgrass

Cheatgrass

Bromus tectorum

A prolific and transformative invader, Cheatgrass reshapes entire landscapes with its rapid spring growth and vibrant...

Plants
Cherimoya

Cherimoya

Annona cherimola

Known as the 'Custard Apple,' the Cherimoya is a lush Andean tree prized for its creamy, heart-shaped fruit. It trans...

Plants
Cherry laurel

Cherry laurel

Prunus laurocerasus

A glossy-leaved evergreen powerhouse that provides essential year-round shelter and a seasonal feast for backyard birds.

Plants
Chewing's Fescue

Chewing's Fescue

Festuca nigrescens

A champion of shade and poor soils, Chewing's Fescue is the 'fine-haired' beauty of the grass world. This resilient b...

Plants
Chilean rhubarb

Chilean rhubarb

Gunnera tinctoria

The Chilean Rhubarb is a botanical giant, boasting leaves so large they look like they belong in a prehistoric jungle...

Plants
Chinese Ixora

Chinese Ixora

Ixora chinensis

A cornerstone of the tropical garden, the Chinese Ixora is a 'jungle flame' that attracts a revolving door of butterf...

Plants
Chinese privet

Chinese privet

Ligustrum sinense

A fragrant invader that has redefined the American landscape, Chinese privet is a master of survival. Its dense green...

Plants
Chinese witch-hazel

Chinese witch-hazel

Hamamelis mollis

The Chinese witch-hazel is a winter-blooming icon, famous for its intense citrus fragrance and golden, spider-like fl...

Plants
Christmas fern

Christmas fern

Polystichum acrostichoides

A hardy icon of the eastern woodlands, the Christmas fern provides a splash of vibrant green even in the depths of wi...

Plants
cinnamon fern

cinnamon fern

Osmundastrum cinnamomeum

A living fossil from the Triassic period, the cinnamon fern is a prehistoric beauty known for its vibrant green frond...

Plants
Cinnamon tree

Cinnamon tree

Cinnamomum burmanni

Famous for its aromatic 'Korintje' spice and stunning reddish new foliage, the Cinnamon tree is a cornerstone of Sout...

Plants
Climbing fig

Climbing fig

Ficus pumila

A vigorous evergreen climber that turns cold stone into living walls. Known for its tiny heart-shaped leaves and incr...

Plants
Cluster Fig

Cluster Fig

Ficus racemosa

A biological powerhouse of the tropics, the Cluster Fig feeds an entire ecosystem by growing massive bundles of fruit...

Plants

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