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Plants of Boston National Historical Park

The plants most often spotted in Boston, ranked by recent research-grade observations.

1,150
recent observations
50
species listed
50
plants

Naturalists have logged 1,150 research-grade observations across the 50 most-recorded species in Boston. The most frequently seen is the Tree-of-heaven, with 61 recorded sightings.

Most-observed plants in Boston

Tree-of-heaven
Ailanthus altissima
61 observations
White Clover
Trifolium repens
60 observations
Bittersweet Nightshade
Solanum dulcamara
56 observations
Common Milkweed
Asclepias syriaca
53 observations
Rugosa Rose
Rosa rugosa
47 observations · iNaturalist
Japanese Creeper
Parthenocissus tricuspidata
41 observations · iNaturalist
Chicory
Cichorium intybus
40 observations
Common Dandelion
Taraxacum officinale
39 observations
American Pokeweed
Phytolacca americana
38 observations
Common Mugwort
Artemisia vulgaris
30 observations · iNaturalist
Bull Thistle
Cirsium vulgare
28 observations
Staghorn Sumac
Rhus typhina
27 observations
Ribwort Plantain
Plantago lanceolata
26 observations
Ground-ivy
Glechoma hederacea
25 observations · iNaturalist
American Burnweed
Erechtites hieraciifolius
25 observations · iNaturalist
Asiatic Dayflower
Commelina communis
24 observations · iNaturalist
Swamp Rose Mallow
Hibiscus moscheutos
24 observations
Common Ivy
Hedera helix
23 observations
Greater Plantain
Plantago major
23 observations
Lesser Periwinkle
Vinca minor
22 observations · iNaturalist
Pineapple-weed
Matricaria discoidea
21 observations · iNaturalist
Garlic Mustard
Alliaria petiolata
21 observations
Common Toadflax
Linaria vulgaris
20 observations
Purple Loosestrife
Lythrum salicaria
20 observations
Purple Crownvetch
Securigera varia
19 observations · iNaturalist
Japanese Knotweed
Reynoutria japonica
18 observations
Common Reed
Phragmites australis
17 observations
Honey Locust
Gleditsia triacanthos
16 observations
False Indigo Bush
Amorpha fruticosa
16 observations
Common Purslane
Portulaca oleracea
16 observations
Black Nightshade
Solanum nigrum
16 observations
Northern Seaside Goldenrod
Solidago sempervirens
16 observations
American White Waterlily
Nymphaea odorata
15 observations
White Mulberry
Morus alba
15 observations · iNaturalist
Wild Carrot
Daucus carota
15 observations
Butterfly Milkweed
Asclepias tuberosa
14 observations
Spotted Spurge
Euphorbia maculata
14 observations · iNaturalist
Sweet Pepperbush
Clethra alnifolia
13 observations
Blue Vervain
Verbena hastata
13 observations
Low Smartweed
Persicaria longiseta
13 observations · iNaturalist
Green Carpetweed
Mollugo verticillata
12 observations · iNaturalist
Bigbract Verbena
Verbena bracteata
12 observations
Japanese Pachysandra
Pachysandra terminalis
12 observations · iNaturalist
Eastern Black Nightshade
Solanum emulans
12 observations · iNaturalist
Carolina Horsenettle
Solanum carolinense
11 observations
Common Buckthorn
Rhamnus cathartica
11 observations
Bird's-foot Trefoil
Lotus corniculatus
10 observations · iNaturalist
Tufted Vetch
Vicia cracca
10 observations · iNaturalist
Norway Maple
Acer platanoides
10 observations · iNaturalist
Shepherd's-purse
Capsella bursa-pastoris
10 observations

Built from recent research-grade iNaturalist observations. Identifications are community-sourced and may occasionally be wrong, and the ranking reflects where people record and photograph wildlife, so a species seen often here is not necessarily rare elsewhere. Some plants and animals are only out in certain seasons. Treat this as a lively snapshot of what people are finding, not a formal checklist.

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