Species library

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

spotted Joe-Pye weed

spotted Joe-Pye weed

Eutrochium maculatum

A towering icon of the American wetlands, Spotted Joe-Pye Weed is a pollinator powerhouse known for its massive pink ...

Wildflowers
Spreading Bellflower

Spreading Bellflower

Campanula patula

A star among wildflowers, the Spreading Bellflower is famous for its widely flared, lilac petals and delicate, airy s...

Wildflowers
star chickweed

star chickweed

Stellaria pubera

A woodland gem that mimics the night sky, Star Chickweed is one of the brightest heralds of the eastern spring. Its d...

Wildflowers
star-flowered lily-of-the-valley

star-flowered lily-of-the-valley

Maianthemum stellatum

A woodland gem with a rhythmic zig-zag stem and starry white blooms, the star-flowered lily-of-the-valley brings a so...

Wildflowers
striped wintergreen

striped wintergreen

Chimaphila maculata

A striking woodland treasure, striped wintergreen brightens the forest floor with its variegated evergreen leaves and...

Wildflowers
Summer snowflake

Summer snowflake

Leucojum aestivum

Graceful and resilient, the Summer snowflake dances in the spring breeze with its characteristic green-tipped bells. ...

Wildflowers
swamp milkweed

swamp milkweed

Asclepias incarnata

The crown jewel of the butterfly garden, swamp milkweed is a vibrant, vanilla-scented powerhouse that sustains Monarc...

Wildflowers
swamp rose mallow

swamp rose mallow

Hibiscus moscheutos

A giant of the American wetlands, the swamp rose mallow produces some of the largest native flowers in North America....

Wildflowers
sweet black-eyed Susan

sweet black-eyed Susan

Rudbeckia subtomentosa

Famed for its sweet anise scent and golden-yellow blooms, the sweet black-eyed Susan is a cornerstone of the American...

Wildflowers
tall bellflower

tall bellflower

Campanulastrum americanum

A towering spire of violet stars, the tall bellflower is a summer masterpiece that bridges the gap between wild woodl...

Wildflowers
tall boneset

tall boneset

Eupatorium altissimum

A statuesque late-season bloom, tall boneset transforms sunny fields into bustling nectar stations. Its fuzzy white c...

Wildflowers
Texas Sage

Texas Sage

Salvia texana

A hardy survivor of the limestone prairies, Texas Sage paints the landscape with deep indigo blooms every spring. Thi...

Wildflowers
tiny bluet

tiny bluet

Houstonia pusilla

One of the first heralds of spring, the tiny bluet transforms ordinary lawns into a shimmering carpet of indigo stars...

Wildflowers
Tufted Poppy

Tufted Poppy

Eschscholzia caespitosa

A delicate herald of spring, the Tufted Poppy blankets foothills in shades of brilliant lemon-yellow. Smaller and mor...

Wildflowers
Two-leaved Toothwort

Two-leaved Toothwort

Cardamine diphylla

A delicate herald of spring, the Two-leaved Toothwort carpets the forest floor with starry white blossoms before the ...

Wildflowers
Venus's looking-glass

Venus's looking-glass

Triodanis biflora

A fleeting violet treasure of the late spring, Venus's looking-glass brings a touch of celestial color to sun-drenche...

Wildflowers
Virginia Springbeauty

Virginia Springbeauty

Claytonia virginica

A delicate herald of the changing seasons, the Virginia Springbeauty transforms the forest floor into a sea of candy-...

Wildflowers
Wasatch Beardtongue

Wasatch Beardtongue

Penstemon cyananthus

A stunning burst of electric blue, the Wasatch Beardtongue is the crown jewel of the Intermountain West’s wild garden...

Wildflowers
water forget-me-not

water forget-me-not

Myosotis scorpioides

The water forget-me-not is a sprawling, sky-blue gem that turns muddy banks into living tapestries. A favorite of poe...

Wildflowers
water hemlock

water hemlock

Cicuta maculata

Often called the most 'violently toxic' plant in North America, water hemlock is a tall, striking wetland perennial t...

Wildflowers
Welsh Poppy

Welsh Poppy

Papaver cambricum

A burst of sunshine in the shadiest corners, the Welsh Poppy is a hardy mountain native that has found a second home ...

Wildflowers
Western Bog Laurel

Western Bog Laurel

Kalmia microphylla

A hardy jewel of the mountain wetlands, Western Bog Laurel dazzles with its bowl-shaped pink blossoms and fascinating...

Wildflowers
western hawkweed

western hawkweed

Hieracium scouleri

A shaggy, silver-haired survivor of the western mountains, Scouler's woollyweed brightens dry slopes with its golden,...

Wildflowers
Western Wallflower

Western Wallflower

Erysimum capitatum

A beacon of the western wilderness, the Western Wallflower paints hillsides in hues of gold and amber. This rugged be...

Wildflowers
White deadnettle

White deadnettle

Lamium album

The 'gentle cousin' of the stinging nettle, White Dead-nettle is a beautiful, sting-free wildflower that provides a v...

Wildflowers
white heath aster

white heath aster

Symphyotrichum ericoides

Transform your autumn landscape with the 'snow' of the prairie. The white heath aster is a hardy, late-season powerho...

Wildflowers
white snakeroot

white snakeroot

Ageratina altissima

Transforming shaded corners into a sea of white, this resilient wildflower is a vital late-season sanctuary for polli...

Wildflowers
White Wood Aster

White Wood Aster

Eurybia divaricata

A resilient star of the shadows, the White Wood Aster illuminates the forest floor with its brilliant white blooms an...

Wildflowers
Wilcox's Penstemon

Wilcox's Penstemon

Penstemon wilcoxii

A vibrant jewel of the Pacific Northwest mountains, Wilcox's Penstemon dazzles with spikes of sky-blue flowers that s...

Wildflowers
wild bergamot

wild bergamot

Monarda fistulosa

A summer icon of the American prairie, wild bergamot provides a spectacular burst of lavender color and an irresistib...

Wildflowers
Wild radish

Wild radish

Raphanus raphanistrum

A hardy pioneer of the mustard family, the wild radish brings delicate, veined blossoms to the rugged edges of our su...

Wildflowers
wild sarsaparilla

wild sarsaparilla

Aralia nudicaulis

A shadow-loving staple of the North American woods, Wild Sarsaparilla is famous for its hidden blooms and 'leaves of ...

Wildflowers
Winged Loosestrife

Winged Loosestrife

Lythrum alatum

The elegant, native alternative to invasive wetland plants, Winged Loosestrife offers striking purple blooms and uniq...

Wildflowers
Winter Aconite

Winter Aconite

Eranthis hyemalis

The brave golden herald of the late winter garden, Winter Aconite defies the frost to carpet the forest floor in bril...

Wildflowers
wood anemone

wood anemone

Anemonoides nemorosa

A delicate herald of the changing seasons, the wood anemone carpets forest floors in a sea of white stars before the ...

Wildflowers
Wood Cow-wheat

Wood Cow-wheat

Melampyrum nemorosum

Known in Sweden as 'Night and Day,' this striking forest wildflower captivates with its brilliant purple bracts and g...

Wildflowers

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