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🇺🇸 The flowers of the United States

254 pages from the United States: its flowers, the things made with them and the places to see them, across 60 cities and regions.

The United States is home to about 17,000 native species of flowering plants, making its flora among the richest in the temperate world. Its plant life ranges from arctic tundra to tropical forests, deserts, and rainforests. The country is known for flowering dogwood, redbud, magnolia, and mountain laurel, among others.

  • About 17,000 native flowering plant species grow in the U.S.
  • The flora ranges from arctic tundra to tropical rainforest and desert.
  • Flowering dogwood and southern magnolia are famous U.S. natives.
  • Thousands of native plants are rare, threatened, or endangered.
  • Blueberries and cranberries originated in the United States.

The plant life of the United States

Plant life in the United States is shaped by a wide range of climates and landscapes, from the arctic regions of Alaska to the tropical areas of Florida and Hawaii. The country’s flora is extremely diverse, with about 17,000 native vascular plant species and thousands more non-native plants now established. The U.S. supports rainforests, deserts, alpine meadows, and temperate forests, making it one of the most botanically varied temperate countries globally. Its native plants include many ornamentals and important crops.

From region to region in the United States

Flora changes dramatically across the United States. The arctic north of Alaska, tropical southern Florida and Hawaii, and the varied mountains and plains each have their own characteristic plants. Coastal areas face three different oceans, while deserts, rainforests, and alpine zones add to the diversity. The country is divided into several floristic regions and provinces, each with unique species and levels of endemism.

Flowers to know in the United States

Several flowering plants from the U.S. are now grown worldwide as ornamentals, such as flowering dogwood, redbud, mountain laurel, southern magnolia, and bald cypress. The country is also the original home of food plants like blueberries, cranberries, black raspberries, and pecans. Some species, like Franklinia alatamaha, are extinct or possibly extinct in the wild, while thousands more are considered rare or threatened.

How flowers are used in the United States

Many U.S. native plants are cultivated for gardens and landscaping, especially flowering trees and shrubs. The flora has also contributed important food crops, including berries, nuts, and maple syrup. Timber trees like Monterey pine are significant as well. Traditional uses and customs are not detailed in the source.

Threats and protection in the United States

Extinction and endangerment affect many native U.S. plants. Some, like Franklinia alatamaha, are extinct or missing from the wild. Thousands of other species are listed as rare, threatened, or endangered, either across their whole range or in particular states. Conservation efforts and reserves are implied but not described in detail.

Where this page comes from

The facts in this overview come from the Wikipedia article "Flora of the United States", written by its contributors and used under the CC BY-SA 4.0 licence. Phool rewrote the text in its own words, with AI assistance, and compares every page with the article to make sure no passage is copied. It may be reused under the same CC BY-SA 4.0 licence with a link back.

Flower experiences in the United States

All 20
🇺🇸 Honolulu · All yearMake a lei in HonoluluLearn to string a Hawaiian flower lei, and see the lei stands of Chinatown. 🇺🇸 Los Angeles · All yearThe Los Angeles Flower District at dawnSeveral blocks of wholesale flower halls in downtown Los Angeles, open to the public and busiest before sunrise. 🇺🇸 New York City · All yearThe flower block on West 28th StreetA single Manhattan block where wholesale florists put trees, branches and buckets of flowers out on the pavement each morning. 🇺🇸 Kennett Square · All yearLongwood Gardens and its conservatoryThe former du Pont estate in Pennsylvania, with a vast glass conservatory, fountains and flower displays in every season. 🇺🇸 New York City · Feb to OctThe New York Botanical Garden in the BronxA 250-acre garden with a Victorian-style glasshouse, a late winter orchid show, an azalea hillside and a large rose garden. 🇺🇸 San Marino · Jan to DecThe Huntington's rose, camellia and desert gardensA library and art estate near Pasadena with more than a dozen themed gardens, strongest in winter and spring.

Cities and regions of the United States

California 11Hawaii 5Portland 5Arizona 4New Mexico 4New York City 4Texas 4Washington, D.C. 4Oregon 3Rochester 3San Francisco 3Alabama 2Alaska 2Berkeley 2Boston 2Chicago 2Columbus 2Connecticut 2Encinitas 2Florida 2Hamakua 2Holland 2Honolulu 2Kauaʻi 2Kauai 2Louisiana 2Mackinac Island 2Macon 2Maui 2Miami 2Oklahoma 2Pasadena 2Philadelphia 2Tucson 2Utah 2Virginia 2Washington 2Airlie Gardens 1Aleutian Islands 1Antelope Valley 1Antelope Valley California Poppy Reserve 1Anza-Borrego Park 1Arcadia 1Arkansas 1Arp 1Asheville 1Baboquivari Mountains 1Baltimore 1Bear Valley 1Bellevue 1Blue Ridge Mountains 1Boothbay 1Borrego Springs 1Buncombe County 1Cahaba River 1Carrizo Plain National Monument 1Carter County 1Catawba River 1Chaska 1Cheesman Park 1
ShowFlowersDecorationsPlaces
ColourRedPinkOrangeYellowWhiteCreamBluePurpleGreenMaroonMany-coloured
KindWildflowerGarden flowerCut flowerFlowering treeFlowering shrubBulb flowerClimberOrchidWater flowerCactus or succulentAlpine flowerTropical flowerHerb or useful flower
In flowerSpringSummerMonsoonAutumnWinter
PeachPrunus persica A flowering fruit tree from China, grown for its pink blossoms and sweet fruit 🇨🇳 China and 7 more · Flowering tree AlmondPrunus amygdalus A Mediterranean tree grown for its fragrant spring flowers and edible seeds 🇮🇷 Iran and 6 more · Flowering tree CactusCactaceae Succulent plants with spines, native to the Americas 🇲🇽 Mexico and 7 more · Wildflower Chrysanthemum菊花 Autumn-blooming flower with thousands of varieties, cherished in East Asia and beyond 🇨🇳 China and 6 more · Wildflower LindenTilia Tall, broad-leaved trees with fragrant yellow flowers and heart-shaped leaves 🇨🇳 China and 7 more · Flowering tree YarrowAchillea millefolium A wild, fern-leaved plant with flat clusters of white or pink flowers and a spicy scent 🇨🇳 China and 6 more · Wildflower RapeseedBrassica napus A yellow-flowered crop grown for its oil-rich seeds and protein meal 🇨🇳 China and 7 more · Wildflower Sensitive PlantMimosa pudica A touch-sensitive plant whose leaves fold up when disturbed 🇧🇷 Brazil and 8 more · Wildflower Thorn-appleDatura stramonium A poisonous, night-blooming plant with trumpet-shaped white or violet flowers 🇨🇳 China and 7 more · Wildflower Dog roseRosa canina A wild climbing rose with pale pink flowers and bright red hips 🇮🇪 Ireland and 7 more · Wildflower Rhododendron A vast group of shrubs and trees with showy blooms in many colours 🇳🇵 Nepal and 4 more · Wildflower PoinsettiaEuphorbia pulcherrima The red-bracted shrub of Christmas displays, native to Mexico and Central America 🇲🇽 Mexico and 8 more · Wildflower SafflowerCarthamus tinctorius A thistle-like annual grown for oil, dye, and as a saffron substitute 🇨🇳 China and 7 more · Wildflower CarnationDianthus caryophyllus A fragrant flower with ruffled petals, grown worldwide for decoration and meaning 🇨🇳 China and 7 more · Garden flower Black locustRobinia pseudoacacia A tall, fragrant-flowered tree native to eastern North America 🇺🇸 United States and 7 more · Flowering tree Datura A group of trumpet-shaped, highly toxic flowering plants in the nightshade family 🇲🇽 Mexico and 7 more · Wildflower LupinLupinus Tall, spiky-flowered legumes grown for gardens, food, and soil health 🇺🇸 United States and 7 more · Wildflower Vanilla Climbing orchids with pods used for the world’s most popular flavor 🇲🇽 Mexico and 7 more · Wildflower LotusNelumbo Aquatic plants with large, round leaves and striking flowers called lotus 🇮🇳 India and 7 more · Water flower Sweet VioletViola odorata A scented violet with edible leaves and flowers, native to Eurasia 🇨🇳 China and 7 more · Wildflower BromeliadsBromeliaceae A family of tropical flowering plants from the Americas, including the pineapple 🇨🇱 Chile and 7 more · Wildflower Prickly pearOpuntia Cactus with flat pads and edible fruit, native to the Americas 🇲🇽 Mexico and 7 more · Wildflower Yucca Dry-climate plants with pointed leaves and clusters of creamy white flowers 🇲🇽 Mexico and 4 more · Wildflower DogwoodCornus Woody trees and shrubs with showy bracts and colorful berries 🇨🇳 China and 7 more · Wildflower PassionflowerPassiflora A vine with intricate flowers and edible fruits, grown worldwide 🇺🇸 United States and 7 more · Wildflower Indian fig opuntiaOpuntia ficus-indica A large, spiny cactus grown for its sweet fruit and edible pads 🇲🇽 Mexico and 7 more · Wildflower LantanaLantana camara A colourful shrub with clusters of small, changing flowers 🇧🇷 Brazil and 9 more · Flowering shrub White cloverTrifolium repens A low-growing, mat-forming clover with white flower heads 🇨🇳 China and 7 more · Wildflower Marsh-marigoldCaltha palustris A bright yellow wildflower of marshes and wet woodlands in cool climates 🇨🇳 China and 7 more · Wildflower FireweedChamaenerion angustifolium A tall pink wildflower that quickly covers burned or disturbed ground 🇨🇳 China and 3 more · Wildflower MagaThespesia grandiflora Puerto Rico’s national flower, a red or pink five-petalled tree bloom 🇵🇷 Puerto Rico and 2 more · Flowering tree Catawba rosebayRhododendron catawbiense A spring-flowering rhododendron native to the southern Appalachian Mountains 🇺🇸 United States · Wildflower Chaparral yuccaHesperoyucca whipplei A tall, spiky-leaved plant with dramatic white flower spikes from dry slopes 🇺🇸 United States and 1 more · Wildflower Pacific dogwoodCornus nuttallii White-bracted tree native to the forests of western North America 🇺🇸 United States · Flowering tree Mountain laurelKalmia latifolia Evergreen shrub with pink or white star-shaped blooms from eastern North America 🇺🇸 United States · Wildflower Ceanothus Shrubs with blue, white or pink flowers native to North America 🇺🇸 United States and 5 more · Wildflower Giant blue irisIris giganticaerulea Tall blue-flowered iris native to the wetlands of the southern United States 🇺🇸 United States · Wildflower Trillium Woodland wildflowers with three-petalled blooms and whorled bracts 🇺🇸 United States and 4 more · Wildflower Protea neriifolia A South African shrub with cone-shaped flower heads and hairy-tipped bracts 🇿🇦 South Africa and 3 more · Wildflower Hepatica A woodland perennial with three-lobed leaves and early spring flowers 🇨🇳 China and 7 more · Wildflower Castilleja exserta A pink-purple wildflower and butterfly host from the American Southwest and Mexico 🇺🇸 United States and 1 more · Wildflower Zinnia Bright, long-stemmed flowers native to dry grasslands from the US to South America 🇲🇽 Mexico and 7 more · Wildflower Clary sageSalvia sclarea A tall herb with aromatic leaves and pale lilac to white flower spikes 🇨🇳 China and 2 more · Herb or useful flower TwinflowerLinnaea borealis A small woodland plant with paired pale pink flowers, named for Carl Linnaeus 🇺🇸 United States and 2 more · Wildflower Heuchera Evergreen perennials with colorful leaves and delicate spring flowers 🇺🇸 United States and 2 more · Wildflower Heliopsis Bright yellow sunflower-like flowers of the Americas 🇺🇸 United States and 7 more · Wildflower Mandevilla A tropical vine with large trumpet-shaped blooms in vivid colours 🇧🇷 Brazil and 2 more · Climber Moutan peonyPaeonia × suffruticosa The woody peony of China with large, showy spring flowers 🇨🇳 China and 4 more · Flowering shrub
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Photo credits on this page

The small pictures above come from Wikimedia Commons under free licences. Some are cropped to fit.

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