Overview
New York's wildflower year runs from spring ephemerals in the hardwood forests through summer meadows to a long, colorful fall of asters and goldenrods. The Adirondacks, Catskills, and Finger Lakes each add their own character.
This guide covers common and iconic New York wildflowers — how to recognize them and when they bloom. Photograph the flower and leaves and use the app to confirm any bloom you find.
Key Species to Know
Wild Columbine
Aquilegia canadensis
Nodding red-and-yellow flowers with backward-pointing spurs, dancing on thin stems over lacy leaves. A hummingbird favorite of rocky woods.
Trout Lily
Erythronium americanum
A nodding, yellow, lily-like spring flower with swept-back petals above mottled, trout-patterned leaves. Carpets the forest floor in early spring.
New England Aster
Symphyotrichum novae-angliae
Bushy clusters of purple, yellow-centered daisies that close out the season in a blaze of fall color, feeding late pollinators.
Cardinal Flower
Lobelia cardinalis
Tall spikes of intense scarlet, tubular flowers along late-summer streambanks — one of the most vivid reds in the eastern flora. Pollinated by hummingbirds.
Wild Bergamot
Monarda fistulosa
A mint-family wildflower with ragged, lavender pom-pom flower heads and a minty scent, humming with bees and hummingbirds in summer meadows.
Black-eyed Susan
Rudbeckia hirta
A familiar daisy with golden-yellow rays around a dark brown dome, common in meadows and along roads. Bristly stems and leaves.
Seasonal Guide
- April–May: spring ephemerals like trout lily and columbine bloom before the forest canopy closes.
- June–August: meadow flowers such as bergamot and black-eyed Susan peak.
- September–October: New England asters and goldenrods light up roadsides and fields.
Safety Reminder
Many spring woodland wildflowers are slow-growing — enjoy and photograph them in place rather than picking or digging. This guide is for identification and enjoyment, not foraging.
Identify it instantly
Found something and not sure what it is? Point your camera with Spotter and get a species identification in seconds — with detailed reference info and species notes.