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Plants of Colorado

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

259,477
recent observations
50
species listed
50
plants

Naturalists have logged 259,477 research-grade observations across the 50 most-recorded species in Colorado. The most frequently seen is the Great Mullein, with 10,488 recorded sightings.

Rarer finds confirmed in Colorado include Nylon Hedgehog Cactus - uncommon enough that a sighting is worth logging.

Nylon Hedgehog Cactus

Most-observed plants in Colorado

Great Mullein
Verbascum thapsus
10,488 observations
Blue Columbine
Aquilegia coerulea
10,453 observations
Showy Milkweed
Asclepias speciosa
9,936 observations
Fireweed
Chamaenerion angustifolium
8,242 observations · iNaturalist
Great Plains Yucca
Yucca glauca
8,112 observations
Quaking Aspen
Populus tremuloides
7,392 observations
Lanceleaf Stonecrop
Sedum lanceolatum
7,240 observations · iNaturalist
Creeping Mahonia
Berberis repens
7,215 observations · iNaturalist
Rocky Mountains Ponderosa Pine
Pinus scopulorum
7,097 observations · iNaturalist
Rubber Rabbitbrush
Ericameria nauseosa
7,059 observations · iNaturalist
Field Bindweed
Convolvulus arvensis
6,674 observations
Plains Pricklypear
Opuntia polyacantha
6,376 observations
Sulfur Buckwheat
Eriogonum umbellatum
6,122 observations
Common Yarrow
Achillea millefolium
6,016 observations
Prairie Pasqueflower
Pulsatilla nuttalliana
5,720 observations · iNaturalist
Gunnison's Mariposa Lily
Calochortus gunnisonii
5,670 observations · iNaturalist
Scarlet Globemallow
Sphaeralcea coccinea
5,601 observations
Common Starlily
Leucocrinum montanum
5,244 observations · iNaturalist
Whipple's Penstemon
Penstemon whippleanus
5,236 observations · iNaturalist
Chokecherry
Prunus virginiana
4,992 observations
Scarlet Gilia
Ipomopsis aggregata
4,932 observations
Mountain Ball Cactus
Pediocactus simpsonii
4,842 observations · iNaturalist
Alderleaf Mountain Mahogany
Cercocarpus montanus
4,831 observations · iNaturalist
Monument Plant
Frasera speciosa
4,782 observations · iNaturalist
Western Harebell
Campanula petiolata
4,781 observations · iNaturalist
Dotted Gayfeather
Liatris punctata
4,760 observations · iNaturalist
Redstem Stork's-bill
Erodium cicutarium
4,598 observations · iNaturalist
Musk Thistle
Carduus nutans
4,497 observations
Front Range Beardtongue
Penstemon virens
4,464 observations · iNaturalist
Elephant's-Head Lousewort
Pedicularis groenlandica
4,028 observations
Shrubby Cinquefoil
Dasiphora fruticosa
4,018 observations
Lambert's Locoweed
Oxytropis lambertii
3,963 observations
Bearberry
Arctostaphylos uva-ursi
3,906 observations
Common Juniper
Juniperus communis
3,866 observations
Fringed Sagebrush
Artemisia frigida
3,822 observations · iNaturalist
Common Cowparsnip
Heracleum maximum
3,768 observations
Rocky Mountain Beeplant
Cleomella serrulata
3,689 observations · iNaturalist
Western Spiderwort
Tradescantia occidentalis
3,673 observations
Western Wallflower
Erysimum capitatum
3,647 observations · iNaturalist
Creeping Thistle
Cirsium arvense
3,625 observations
Balkan Toadflax
Linaria dalmatica
3,590 observations · iNaturalist
Wax Currant
Ribes cereum
3,554 observations · iNaturalist
Yellow Sweetclover
Melilotus officinalis
3,550 observations
Thistle Poppy
Argemone polyanthemos
3,467 observations · iNaturalist
Green-flower Hedgehog Cactus
Echinocereus viridiflorus
3,363 observations
Upright Prairie Coneflower
Ratibida columnifera
3,351 observations
Rocky Mountain Juniper
Juniperus scopulorum
3,330 observations
Twinberry Honeysuckle
Lonicera involucrata
3,314 observations
Pinewoods Geranium
Geranium caespitosum
3,293 observations · iNaturalist
Colorado Pinyon
Pinus edulis
3,288 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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