Species library

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

325–360 of 583 species

Molucca Bramble

Molucca Bramble

Rubus moluccanus

A vibrant, scrambling native raspberry that provides a thorny sanctuary for backyard wildlife. With its velvety leave...

Plants
Morrow's honeysuckle

Morrow's honeysuckle

Lonicera morrowii

A vigorous master of the early spring, Morrow's honeysuckle creates lush, flowering thickets that transform backyard ...

Plants
Moso Bamboo

Moso Bamboo

Phyllostachys edulis

The undisputed king of temperate bamboos, Moso Bamboo creates soaring green cathedrals that can grow over three feet ...

Plants
moss phlox

moss phlox

Phlox subulata

A vibrant, low-growing perennial that transforms rocky slopes into a carpet of brilliant color every spring. Moss phl...

Plants
mountain fly-honeysuckle

mountain fly-honeysuckle

Lonicera villosa

A hidden gem of North American wetlands, the mountain fly-honeysuckle offers more than just beauty. Its velvety leave...

Plants
mountain laurel

mountain laurel

Kalmia latifolia

Often called the 'Calico Bush,' Mountain Laurel transforms eastern forests into a sea of pink and white every spring....

Plants
Mountain rock fig

Mountain rock fig

Ficus glumosa

A true architect of the cliffs, the Mountain rock fig turns barren stone into a thriving vertical garden. With its ve...

Plants
Mountain Sage

Mountain Sage

Salvia regla

Known as the 'Queen of the Chisos,' Mountain Sage is a spectacular scarlet-flowered shrub that fuels the epic migrati...

Plants
mouse-eared hawkweed

mouse-eared hawkweed

Pilosella officinarum

A hardy and tenacious wildflower, the mouse-eared hawkweed blankets sunny fields with its distinctive lemon-yellow bl...

Plants
muscadine

muscadine

Vitis rotundifolia

The soul of the Southern landscape, the muscadine is more than just a vine—it's a thriving hub for backyard biodivers...

Plants
narrow-leaved cattail

narrow-leaved cattail

Typha angustifolia

A slender sentinel of the marsh, the narrow-leaved cattail offers elegant structure and vital sanctuary for backyard ...

Plants
narrowleaf milkweed

narrowleaf milkweed

Asclepias fascicularis

The narrowleaf milkweed is a vital sanctuary for Monarch butterflies and a stunning addition to any drought-tolerant ...

Plants
narrowleaf mountainmint

narrowleaf mountainmint

Pycnanthemum tenuifolium

A midsummer magnet for pollinators, narrowleaf mountainmint creates a 'snow-covered' effect in the garden with its pr...

Plants
Narrowleaf Willow

Narrowleaf Willow

Salix exigua

The Narrowleaf Willow is a shimmering, silver-green powerhouse of the wetlands, creating dense sanctuary thickets for...

Plants
Nebraska sedge

Nebraska sedge

Carex nebrascensis

The ironclad architect of Western wetlands, Nebraska Sedge is a stunning blue-green perennial that transforms muddy b...

Plants
Needle-and-thread Grass

Needle-and-thread Grass

Hesperostipa comata

The mechanical marvel of the prairie, this grass uses shimmering 'threads' to literally drill its seeds into the eart...

Plants
needlegrass rush

needlegrass rush

Juncus roemerianus

The resilient architect of the 'black marsh,' needlegrass rush forms dense, protective thickets that guard our coastl...

Plants
Needleleaf sedge

Needleleaf sedge

Carex duriuscula

The ultimate survivor of the plains, Needleleaf sedge is a tiny powerhouse that turns dry, sandy soil into a resilien...

Plants
New York fern

New York fern

Amauropelta noveboracensis

Famous for the mnemonic 'New Yorkers taper at both ends,' this bright green fern creates lush, feathery carpets acros...

Plants
New Zealand tree fern

New Zealand tree fern

Dicksonia squarrosa

The Whekī is New Zealand’s most iconic and resilient tree fern, instantly recognizable by its slender black trunk and...

Plants
Nigella

Nigella

Nigella sativa

Famed for its 'Love-in-a-Mist' foliage and spicy black seeds, Nigella sativa is a Mediterranean treasure that brings ...

Plants
nimblewill

nimblewill

Muhlenbergia schreberi

The ultimate survivor of the shaded backyard, Nimblewill forms delicate, creeping mats of wiry green stems. This nati...

Plants
nodding sedge

nodding sedge

Carex gynandra

With its elegant drooping seed heads and vibrant green tufts, the nodding sedge is a graceful addition to any damp ba...

Plants
Northern Blueberry

Northern Blueberry

Vaccinium boreale

A tiny titan of the tundra, the Northern Blueberry survives where few other plants dare to grow. This mat-forming shr...

Plants
northern catalpa

northern catalpa

Catalpa speciosa

A towering giant with heart-shaped leaves and orchid-like blooms, the northern catalpa is a spectacular centerpiece f...

Plants
Northern highbush blueberry

Northern highbush blueberry

Vaccinium corymbosum

A champion of the backyard landscape, the Northern highbush blueberry offers a year-round spectacle of delicate bloom...

Plants
northern spicebush

northern spicebush

Lindera benzoin

The 'forsythia of the wilds,' Northern spicebush is a fragrant powerhouse of the forest understory. Its early spring ...

Plants
northern wild rice

northern wild rice

Zizania palustris

A sacred 'good berry' that rises from the muck of northern lakes, Northern wild rice is a tall, elegant grass that su...

Plants
Northwest Territory sedge

Northwest Territory sedge

Carex utriculata

A golden-green cornerstone of the North American wetland, the Northwest Territory sedge is more than just a plant—it'...

Plants
Old World Diamond Flower

Old World Diamond Flower

Oldenlandia corymbosa

Discover the hidden beauty of your lawn with the Old World Diamond Flower, a resilient herb celebrated for its tiny, ...

Plants
orange cestrum

orange cestrum

Cestrum aurantiacum

Bring a burst of tropical fire to your garden with the orange cestrum. This vibrant evergreen shrub is a magnet for h...

Plants
orchard grass

orchard grass

Dactylis glomerata

A hardy, clump-forming perennial known for its distinctive 'cock's-foot' seed heads and its status as a favorite snac...

Plants
Oregon grape

Oregon grape

Berberis aquifolium

The Oregon grape is a rugged, evergreen icon of the Pacific Northwest, boasting spiny holly-like leaves and vibrant g...

Plants
Oriental Poppy

Oriental Poppy

Papaver orientale

With their massive, crinkled petals and striking midnight-dark centers, Oriental Poppies are the undisputed heavyweig...

Plants
ostrich fern

ostrich fern

Matteuccia struthiopteris

The ostrich fern is a living relic of the prehistoric world, unfurling its giant, feathery plumes to create a lush gr...

Plants
Oval-leaf Blueberry

Oval-leaf Blueberry

Vaccinium ovalifolium

A cornerstone of the northern forest, the Oval-leaf Blueberry provides early-season nectar and a summer bounty of dee...

Plants

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