Best Wildflower

The Showy Lady’s Slipper (*Cypripedium reginae*) is a distinctive wetland wildflower recognized across North America. It's notable as Minnesota’s state flower and prized for its large size and unusual pink-white spathe, which houses the delicate flowers. This orchid thrives in moist environments and...

The Pink Lady’s Slipper (*Cypripedium acaule*) is a distinctive wildflower found in moist, acidic woodland environments of eastern North America. It's notable for its unusual slipper-shaped flower and the critical symbiotic relationship with a fungus that aids seed germination. This orchid relies e...

The cardinal flower (*Lobelia cardinalis*) is a wetland wildflower known for its prominent, bright red blooms. These spikes attract hummingbirds and other pollinators vital to summer ecosystems. Native to North America, it’s particularly valued by botanists, conservationists, and those interested in...

The American Lotus (Nelumbo lutea) is a perennial wildflower found in shallow, slow-moving waters across eastern North America. Its prominent feature is its exceptionally large, circular leaves—the largest of any North American native plant—and showy pale yellow flowers. The plant’s seeds and young...

Mountain Laurel (Kalmia latifolia) is a distinctive evergreen shrub found throughout the northeastern United States. It’s recognized by its showy clusters of pink to white flowers that emerge in spring. This plant is notable for its unique anther mechanism which rapidly recoils after pollen release,...

Virginia bluebells are woodland wildflowers belonging to the *Mertensia virginica* species. These plants produce striking tubular blooms that shift in color from pink to vibrant blue during spring. They are notable for their ephemeral nature—existing briefly before leaves wither. Primarily found in...

The Arethusa Orchid, *Arethusa bulbosa*, is a distinctive wildflower found in acidic bog habitats of eastern North America. It’s notable for flowering early in the spring with a solitary pink bloom preceding leaf development. This rare orchid is primarily observed by botanists, naturalists, and thos...

The round-leaf sundew is a fascinating wildflower found in northern bog habitats. This carnivorous plant uses specialized leaves covered in sticky mucilage to trap and digest insects for nutrients. It’s notable for its unique feeding mechanism and offers an intriguing glimpse into natural insectivor...

The swamp rose mallow (*Hibiscus moscheutos*) is a wetland perennial wildflower found throughout eastern North America. It’s recognized by its substantial size, featuring large, pink flowers that can reach saucer-like dimensions. This plant thrives in saturated soils and provides habitat for insects...

Prairie Blazing Star (Liatris pycnostachya) is a tallgrass prairie native of central North America, bearing dense magenta spikes that uniquely bloom from top to bottom.

The Purple Pitcher Plant is a carnivorous bog plant native to eastern North America, serving as the official floral emblem of Newfoundland and Labrador.

The White Water Lily is an aquatic plant native to eastern North America, celebrated for its large, fragrant white flowers that bloom on the water's surface.

The Purple Fringed Orchid is a North American native orchid notable for its deeply fringed purple petals that attract butterflies for pollination.

Yellow lady's slipper (*Cypripedium parviflorum*) is a widespread North American orchid notable for its unique, slipper-shaped pouch that cleverly traps insects for pollination.

Large Purple Fringed Orchid (Platanthera grandiflora) is a native orchid of eastern North American bogs and meadows, pollinated by sphinx moths ranging south to the Appalachians.

Prairie smoke (Geum triflorum) is a perennial plant native to the prairies of North America, recognized by its distinctive, nodding pink flowers that transition into feathery, smoky seed heads.

Rough Blazing Star (Liatris aspera) is a drought-tolerant prairie native of eastern North America, distinguished by its widely spaced, button-like purple flowerheads along tall stems.

Wild Bleeding Heart (Dicentra eximia) is a native perennial of the Appalachian Mountains prized for its deeply cut foliage and pink heart-shaped flowers that bloom from spring through fall.

Dragon's Mouth Orchid is a rare terrestrial bog plant native to North America, distinguished by its striking pink blossom and grass-like leaves.

Dotted Blazing Star (Liatris punctata) is a deep-rooted perennial of central North American plains, with taproots exceeding one meter that enable survival in severe drought conditions.

Wild Azalea (Rhododendron canescens), also called Piedmont azalea, is a fragrant deciduous shrub native to the southeastern United States that blooms in early spring before its leaves fully emerge.

The Grass Pink Orchid is a native eastern North American wetland plant notable for its inverted flowers that uniquely deposit pollen onto visiting bees.

Fire pink (*Silene virginica*) is a bright-red wildflower native to eastern North American woodlands that relies primarily on hummingbirds for its successful pollination.

Pasque flower (*Pulsatilla patens*) is an early-blooming spring wildflower recognized as the official state flower of South Dakota, a designation adopted in 1903.

The California poppy (Eschscholzia californica) is a medicinal and ornamental flowering plant native to the United States and Mexico, designated the state flower of California in 1903.

Showy Orchis (Galearis spectabilis) is a native spring orchid of rich eastern North American deciduous forests, producing pink-hooded flowers above a contrasting white lip.

Showy Goldenrod (Solidago speciosa) is considered one of the most ornamentally striking goldenrod species native to eastern North America, producing dense, upright, unbranched golden plumes.

Trailing Arbutus (Epigaea repens) is one of the earliest spring wildflowers of eastern North America and is the official floral emblem of Nova Scotia, Canada, designated in 1901.

Blue Wild Indigo is a robust North American prairie perennial in the legume family, historically notable as a native source of blue dye.