Species library

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

Peach-leaved Bellflower

Peach-leaved Bellflower

Campanula persicifolia

A classic of the summer garden, the Peach-leaved Bellflower offers elegant spires of violet or white blooms that seem...

Wildflowers
purple foxglove

purple foxglove

Digitalis purpurea

A towering icon of the woodland edge, the Purple Foxglove is as legendary for its medicinal power as it is for its st...

Wildflowers
red baneberry

red baneberry

Actaea rubra

A striking but toxic beauty of the North American understory, Red Baneberry dazzles with glossy crimson fruit and del...

Wildflowers
Rock Penstemon

Rock Penstemon

Penstemon baccharifolius

The Rock Penstemon is a desert survivor that paints limestone cliffs with brilliant scarlet strokes. Its nectar-rich ...

Wildflowers
Rocky Mountain beardtongue

Rocky Mountain beardtongue

Penstemon strictus

With its towering spires of electric-blue blossoms, the Rocky Mountain beardtongue is the ultimate garden centerpiece...

Wildflowers
Roezl's penstemon

Roezl's penstemon

Penstemon roezlii

A hardy survivor of the Sierra Nevada, Roezl's penstemon erupts in brilliant blue-purple tubular blooms every summer....

Wildflowers
Rose campion

Rose campion

Silene coronaria

With its striking neon-pink blooms and velvet-soft silvery foliage, the Rose Campion is a timeless garden classic tha...

Wildflowers
Rough Hawkbit

Rough Hawkbit

Leontodon hispidus

The Rough Hawkbit is a resilient, sun-worshipping wildflower that transforms meadows into seas of gold. Distinguished...

Wildflowers
Rydberg's Beardtongue

Rydberg's Beardtongue

Penstemon rydbergii

A signature beauty of the American West, Rydberg's Beardtongue stands tall in damp meadows with its striking stacks o...

Wildflowers
Sand-loving Wallflower

Sand-loving Wallflower

Erysimum ammophilum

A golden beacon of the California dunes, the Sand-loving Wallflower is a rare coastal gem that defies the harsh sea s...

Wildflowers
Sawsepal Beardtongue

Sawsepal Beardtongue

Penstemon glaber

The Sawsepal Beardtongue is an electric-blue masterpiece of the American West. A favorite of hummingbirds and bumbleb...

Wildflowers
scarlet bugler

scarlet bugler

Penstemon centranthifolius

A vibrant burst of fire in the dry chaparral, the scarlet bugler is a stunning native wildflower that acts as a natur...

Wildflowers
scarlet pimpernel

scarlet pimpernel

Lysimachia arvensis

Often called the 'Poor Man's Weather-Glass,' this tiny scarlet wildflower is nature's own barometer. Watch as its bri...

Wildflowers
Scarlet Rosemallow

Scarlet Rosemallow

Hibiscus coccineus

A towering beacon of the American wetlands, the Scarlet Rosemallow commands attention with its massive, star-shaped c...

Wildflowers
Sharpsepal Beardtongue

Sharpsepal Beardtongue

Penstemon tenuis

A lavender gem of the Southern wetlands, the Sharpsepal Beardtongue is a tall, elegant perennial that transforms damp...

Wildflowers
showy milkweed

showy milkweed

Asclepias speciosa

The crown jewel of the western prairie, showy milkweed is more than just a wildflower—it's a vital nursery for Monarc...

Wildflowers
Showy Penstemon

Showy Penstemon

Penstemon spectabilis

A towering icon of the California chaparral, the Showy Penstemon dazzles with its electric blue spikes and serves as ...

Wildflowers
Siberian Iris

Siberian Iris

Iris sibirica

With its elegant, sword-like foliage and vivid violet blooms, the Siberian Iris is a timeless favorite for backyard o...

Wildflowers
Siberian squill

Siberian squill

Scilla siberica

The first true blue of spring, Siberian squill transforms garden floors into a shimmering azure carpet before the tre...

Wildflowers
side-flowering skullcap

side-flowering skullcap

Scutellaria lateriflora

A delicate late-summer gem, the side-flowering skullcap is a favorite for native pollinators. Its unique, helmet-shap...

Wildflowers
sky blue aster

sky blue aster

Symphyotrichum oolentangiense

A late-season masterpiece, the sky blue aster provides a stunning wash of azure to the autumn landscape. It is a vita...

Wildflowers
Slender Blue Flag

Slender Blue Flag

Iris prismatica

Elegant and airy, the Slender Blue Flag is the 'quiet cousin' of the iris world. With its grass-like leaves and stunn...

Wildflowers
Slender speedwell

Slender speedwell

Veronica filiformis

The Slender speedwell is the master of the 'blue carpet' effect, turning ordinary spring lawns into a sea of delicate...

Wildflowers
Slender toothwort

Slender toothwort

Cardamine angustata

A delicate herald of the changing seasons, the Slender Toothwort paints the forest floor in hues of white and pink. T...

Wildflowers
slender yellow woodsorrel

slender yellow woodsorrel

Oxalis dillenii

Look closely at your lawn and you might find the slender yellow woodsorrel, a fascinating plant with heart-shaped lea...

Wildflowers
Small Cow-wheat

Small Cow-wheat

Melampyrum sylvaticum

A hidden treasure of the ancient forest, the Small Cow-wheat is a master of survival, blending a beautiful golden blo...

Wildflowers
Small-flower Beardtongue

Small-flower Beardtongue

Penstemon procerus

A pint-sized powerhouse of the high country, the Small-flower Beardtongue blankets meadows in stunning shades of indi...

Wildflowers
Smooth Beardtongue

Smooth Beardtongue

Penstemon subglaber

A masterpiece of the high desert and mountain slopes, the Smooth Beardtongue dazzles with its hairless, waxy stems an...

Wildflowers
smooth blue aster

smooth blue aster

Symphyotrichum laeve

A late-season masterpiece of the prairie, the smooth blue aster paints the autumn landscape in shades of sapphire and...

Wildflowers
smooth hawkweed

smooth hawkweed

Pilosella piloselloides

With its clusters of vibrant yellow blooms and resilient nature, smooth hawkweed is a common sight in summer meadows....

Wildflowers
Snow-in-summer

Snow-in-summer

Cerastium tomentosum

A shimmering carpet of silver and white, Snow-in-summer transforms rocky garden edges into a dramatic alpine landscap...

Wildflowers
southern blue flag

southern blue flag

Iris virginica

A regal native beauty that transforms wet backyard corners into violet-hued sanctuaries for hummingbirds and bees. Wi...

Wildflowers
Southern Harebell

Southern Harebell

Campanula divaricata

A delicate mountain treasure, the Southern Harebell defies the rugged cliffs of the Appalachians with its airy, viole...

Wildflowers
Spanish Bluebell

Spanish Bluebell

Hyacinthoides hispanica

A robust and cheerful herald of spring, the Spanish Bluebell brightens shady garden corners with its sturdy spikes of...

Wildflowers
spiny phlox

spiny phlox

Phlox hoodii

A tough-as-nails survivor of the American West, Spiny Phlox turns rocky, barren soils into a sea of white blossoms ev...

Wildflowers
Spotted deadnettle

Spotted deadnettle

Lamium maculatum

A silver-tongued beauty of the shade, Spotted Deadnettle brightens dark garden corners while providing a critical nec...

Wildflowers

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