Places › Cities › Chicago › Plants

Plants of Chicago, Illinois

The plants most often spotted near Chicago, ranked by recent research-grade observations.

83,027
recent observations
50
species listed
50
plants

Naturalists have logged 83,027 research-grade observations across the 50 most-recorded species near Chicago. The most frequently seen is the Common Milkweed, with 5,286 recorded sightings.

Most-observed plants near Chicago

Common Milkweed
Asclepias syriaca
5,286 observations
Virginia Bluebells
Mertensia virginica
2,550 observations
Wild Bergamot
Monarda fistulosa
2,495 observations
American Pokeweed
Phytolacca americana
2,461 observations
Mayapple
Podophyllum peltatum
2,427 observations
Prairie Trillium
Trillium recurvatum
2,301 observations
Ground-ivy
Glechoma hederacea
2,236 observations · iNaturalist
White Snakeroot
Ageratina altissima
2,186 observations
Bittersweet Nightshade
Solanum dulcamara
2,178 observations
Virginia Springbeauty
Claytonia virginica
2,177 observations
Wild Geranium
Geranium maculatum
2,130 observations
Lesser Celandine
Ficaria verna
2,094 observations · iNaturalist
Chicory
Cichorium intybus
2,001 observations
Butterfly Milkweed
Asclepias tuberosa
1,922 observations
Wild Carrot
Daucus carota
1,910 observations
Garlic Mustard
Alliaria petiolata
1,798 observations
Rattlesnake Master
Eryngium yuccifolium
1,613 observations
Grey-headed Coneflower
Ratibida pinnata
1,597 observations
Siberian Squill
Scilla siberica
1,582 observations · iNaturalist
Bloodroot
Sanguinaria canadensis
1,548 observations
New England Aster
Symphyotrichum novae-angliae
1,523 observations
Common Buckthorn
Rhamnus cathartica
1,507 observations
Cup Plant
Silphium perfoliatum
1,406 observations
Compass Plant
Silphium laciniatum
1,398 observations
Late Boneset
Eupatorium serotinum
1,391 observations · iNaturalist
White Fawnlily
Erythronium albidum
1,382 observations
Box Elder
Acer negundo
1,379 observations
American Black Elderberry
Sambucus canadensis
1,376 observations
Red Columbine
Aquilegia canadensis
1,369 observations
Creeping Thistle
Cirsium arvense
1,367 observations
Great Blue Lobelia
Lobelia siphilitica
1,366 observations
Red Clover
Trifolium pratense
1,355 observations
Cut-leaved Toothwort
Cardamine concatenata
1,334 observations
Swamp Milkweed
Asclepias incarnata
1,327 observations
Star-flowered Lily-of-the-valley
Maianthemum stellatum
1,310 observations
Golden Alexanders
Zizia aurea
1,310 observations
Blue Phlox
Phlox divaricata
1,295 observations
Jack-in-the-Pulpit
Arisaema triphyllum
1,263 observations
Virginia Waterleaf
Hydrophyllum virginianum
1,239 observations
Cutleaf Teasel
Dipsacus laciniatus
1,227 observations · iNaturalist
Prairie Dock
Silphium terebinthinaceum
1,212 observations
Tall Bellflower
Campanulastrum americanum
1,204 observations · iNaturalist
Obedient Plant
Physostegia virginiana
1,184 observations
White Clover
Trifolium repens
1,180 observations
Canadian Lousewort
Pedicularis canadensis
1,168 observations
Blue Vervain
Verbena hastata
1,105 observations
Large White Trillium
Trillium grandiflorum
1,104 observations
Ohio Spiderwort
Tradescantia ohiensis
1,094 observations
Purple Loosestrife
Lythrum salicaria
1,089 observations
Eastern Shooting Star
Primula meadia
1,071 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.

Plants in nearby places

Out spotting plants near Chicago?

Take Huck with you. Identify any plant you find in seconds and build your collection.

Get Huck

Love plants? Get Huck field notes

Spotting tips, new species, and the best of what people are finding in the wild - straight to your inbox.

By subscribing you agree to receive Huck emails. No spam, unsubscribe anytime. See our Privacy Policy.