Places › States › South Dakota › Plants

Plants of South Dakota

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

31,600
recent observations
50
species listed
50
plants

Naturalists have logged 31,600 research-grade observations across the 50 most-recorded species in South Dakota. The most frequently seen is the Hoary Vervain, with 1,261 recorded sightings.

Most-observed plants in South Dakota

Hoary Vervain
Verbena stricta
1,261 observations
Great Mullein
Verbascum thapsus
1,106 observations
Leadplant
Amorpha canescens
1,076 observations
Rocky Mountains Ponderosa Pine
Pinus scopulorum
1,015 observations · iNaturalist
Plains Pricklypear
Opuntia polyacantha
996 observations
Common Milkweed
Asclepias syriaca
983 observations
Great Plains Yucca
Yucca glauca
983 observations
Upright Prairie Coneflower
Ratibida columnifera
946 observations
Wild Bergamot
Monarda fistulosa
876 observations
Scarlet Globemallow
Sphaeralcea coccinea
860 observations
Field Bindweed
Convolvulus arvensis
851 observations
Smooth Brome
Bromus inermis
819 observations
Dame's Rocket
Hesperis matronalis
772 observations · iNaturalist
Creeping Thistle
Cirsium arvense
756 observations
Curlycup Gumweed
Grindelia squarrosa
735 observations
Showy Milkweed
Asclepias speciosa
707 observations
Yellow Sweetclover
Melilotus officinalis
691 observations
Large-flowered Beardtongue
Penstemon grandiflorus
672 observations
Bur Oak
Quercus macrocarpa
657 observations
Chokecherry
Prunus virginiana
615 observations
Yellow Salsify
Tragopogon dubius
614 observations · iNaturalist
Narrow-leaved Purple Coneflower
Echinacea angustifolia
608 observations
Black-eyed Susan
Rudbeckia hirta
601 observations
Prairie Pasqueflower
Pulsatilla nuttalliana
594 observations · iNaturalist
Wild Licorice
Glycyrrhiza lepidota
579 observations · iNaturalist
Big Bluestem
Andropogon gerardi
562 observations
Eastern Cottonwood
Populus deltoides
553 observations
Common Yarrow
Achillea millefolium
520 observations
Silvery Scurfpea
Pediomelum argophyllum
518 observations · iNaturalist
Fireweed
Chamaenerion angustifolium
497 observations · iNaturalist
Western Snowberry
Symphoricarpos occidentalis
493 observations · iNaturalist
Star-flowered Lily-of-the-valley
Maianthemum stellatum
469 observations
Hound's-tongue
Cynoglossum officinale
466 observations · iNaturalist
Snow-on-the-mountain
Euphorbia marginata
451 observations
Dotted Gayfeather
Liatris punctata
448 observations · iNaturalist
Fringed Sagebrush
Artemisia frigida
446 observations · iNaturalist
Catnip
Nepeta cataria
441 observations · iNaturalist
Red Clover
Trifolium pratense
435 observations
Golden Bean
Thermopsis rhombifolia
434 observations
Western Harebell
Campanula petiolata
433 observations · iNaturalist
Purple Prairie Clover
Dalea purpurea
427 observations
Western Poison Ivy
Toxicodendron rydbergii
416 observations · iNaturalist
Woodland Pinedrops
Pterospora andromedea
410 observations · iNaturalist
Prairie Rose
Rosa arkansana
407 observations · iNaturalist
Brittle Pricklypear
Opuntia fragilis
406 observations · iNaturalist
Musk Thistle
Carduus nutans
403 observations
Box Elder
Acer negundo
402 observations
Alfalfa
Medicago sativa
402 observations · iNaturalist
Silver Wormwood
Artemisia ludoviciana
395 observations
Crested Wheatgrass
Agropyron cristatum
393 observations · iNaturalist

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 in South Dakota?

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.