🇺🇸 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
🇺🇸 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
Place
Crested Butte
A mountain town famed for wildflowers and outdoor festivals in Colorado
Gunnison County, 🇺🇸 United States · Flower garden
Place
Antelope Valley California Poppy Reserve
A state reserve in California known for its spring poppy bloom
Lancaster, 🇺🇸 United States · Bloom site, Feb to May
Place
University of Minnesota Landscape Arboretum
A 1,200-acre public garden and research arboretum near Chaska, Minnesota
Chaska, 🇺🇸 United States · Botanical garden
Place
Garvan Woodland Gardens
A lakeside botanical garden with woodland trails in Arkansas
Hot Springs, 🇺🇸 United States · Botanical garden
Place
Denver Botanic Gardens
A 23-acre public garden in Denver with themed plant collections and a conservatory
Denver, 🇺🇸 United States · Botanical garden
Place
Hawaii Tropical Botanical Garden
A 17-acre garden of tropical plants on Hawaii Island’s lush coast
Hamakua, 🇺🇸 United States · Botanical garden
Place
Callaway Gardens
A 2,500-acre garden and resort in Pine Mountain, Georgia, known for its azaleas
Pine Mountain, 🇺🇸 United States · Botanical garden
Place
Anza-Borrego Desert State Park
California’s largest state park, famous for spring wildflower blooms and desert landscapes
Borrego Springs, 🇺🇸 United States · Bloom site
Place
Crystal Springs Rhododendron Garden
A lakeside garden in Portland with over 2,500 rhododendrons and azaleas
Portland, 🇺🇸 United States · Botanical garden
Place
Los Angeles County Arboretum and Botanic Garden
A 127-acre botanical garden and historic site in Arcadia, California
Arcadia, 🇺🇸 United States · Botanical garden
Place
Exposition Park Rose Garden
A historic sunken rose garden in the heart of Los Angeles
Los Angeles, 🇺🇸 United States · Flower garden
Place
Holden Arboretum
A vast botanical garden and arboretum in Kirtland, Ohio
Kirtland, 🇺🇸 United States · Botanical garden
Place
Mendocino Coast Botanical Gardens
A coastal garden in Mendocino County, California with ocean views and diverse plantings
Fort Bragg, 🇺🇸 United States · Botanical garden
Place
Tyler Municipal Rose Garden
A 14-acre public rose garden and museum in Tyler, Texas
Tyler, 🇺🇸 United States · Flower garden, October
Place
Conservatory Garden
A formal six-acre garden in Central Park, New York City
New York City, 🇺🇸 United States · Flower garden
Place
Foster Botanical Garden
Honolulu’s oldest public botanical garden, home to rare tropical plants and historic trees
Honolulu, 🇺🇸 United States · Botanical garden
Place
Allerton GardenLāwaʻi-kai
A tropical botanical garden by the sea on Kauai, Hawaii
Kauai, 🇺🇸 United States · Botanical garden
Place
Great Craggy Mountains
A North Carolina mountain range known for rhododendrons and sweeping views
Asheville, 🇺🇸 United States · Bloom site, June
Place
Vizcaya Museum and Gardens
A historic Miami villa with Italian-inspired gardens and subtropical plants
Miami, 🇺🇸 United States · Botanical garden
Place
Roan Mountain
A high Appalachian massif known for rhododendrons and grassy summits
Carter County, 🇺🇸 United States · Bloom site
Place
Dumbarton Oaks
A historic estate, garden, museum, and research center in Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., 🇺🇸 United States · Flower garden
Place
Hillwood Estate, Museum & Gardens
A museum and garden estate in Washington, D.C. with historic interiors and formal gardens
Washington, D.C., 🇺🇸 United States · Flower garden
Place
Olbrich Botanical Gardens
A 16-acre public garden and conservatory in Madison, Wisconsin
Madison, 🇺🇸 United States · Botanical garden
Place
Green Animals Topiary Garden
A seaside garden in Rhode Island with animal-shaped topiary and formal beds
Portsmouth, 🇺🇸 United States · Flower garden
Place
Lauritzen Gardens
A 100-acre botanical garden and arboretum in Omaha, Nebraska
Omaha, 🇺🇸 United States · Botanical garden
Place
Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park
A Michigan garden and sculpture park with art, conservatories, and seasonal events
Grand Rapids, 🇺🇸 United States · Botanical garden
Place
San Antonio Botanical Garden
A 41-acre botanical garden on one of San Antonio’s highest points
San Antonio, 🇺🇸 United States · Botanical garden
Place
Gardens of the World
A 4.5-acre botanical garden with themed gardens in Thousand Oaks, California
Thousand Oaks, 🇺🇸 United States · Botanical garden
Place
International Rose Test Garden
Portland’s hillside rose garden with over 10,000 bushes and global test beds
Portland, 🇺🇸 United States · Flower garden, Apr to Oct
Place
Wave Hill
A public garden and arts center overlooking the Hudson River in the Bronx
New York City, 🇺🇸 United States · Botanical garden
Place
Fort Worth Botanic Garden
The oldest major botanical garden in Texas, with themed gardens and historic landscapes
Fort Worth, 🇺🇸 United States · Botanical garden
Place
Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden
An 83-acre garden in Coral Gables with rare tropical plants and butterfly house
Coral Gables, 🇺🇸 United States · Botanical garden
Place
Bellevue Botanical Garden
A 53-acre public garden with themed plant collections in Bellevue, Washington
Bellevue, 🇺🇸 United States · Botanical garden
Place
San Diego Botanic Garden
A 37-acre garden in Encinitas with global plant collections and rare bamboos
Encinitas, 🇺🇸 United States · Botanical garden
Place
Bok Tower Gardens
A historic garden and bird sanctuary with a marble bell tower in central Florida
Lake Wales, 🇺🇸 United States · Botanical garden
Place
Lincoln Park Conservatory
A Victorian glasshouse and gardens in Chicago's Lincoln Park
Chicago, 🇺🇸 United States · Botanical garden
Place
Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden
A 50-acre botanical garden with themed gardens and a conservatory near Richmond, Virginia
Richmond, 🇺🇸 United States · Botanical garden
Place
Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens
A 295-acre botanical garden on Maine’s tidal shore, with themed gardens and art
Boothbay, 🇺🇸 United States · Botanical garden
Place
Norfolk Botanical Garden
A 158-acre botanical garden and arboretum in Norfolk, Virginia
Norfolk, 🇺🇸 United States · Botanical garden
Place
Morris Arboretum
A 92-acre public garden and arboretum in Philadelphia with global plant collections
Philadelphia, 🇺🇸 United States · Botanical garden
Place
Highland Park
A 150-acre arboretum and park in Rochester, New York
Rochester, 🇺🇸 United States · Botanical garden
Place
Cheekwood Botanical Garden and Museum of Art
A historic Nashville estate with gardens and an art museum
Nashville, 🇺🇸 United States · Botanical garden
Place
Washington Park Arboretum
A public garden and park with wetlands, walking paths, and a Japanese Garden in Seattle
Seattle, 🇺🇸 United States · Botanical garden
Place
New Orleans Botanical Garden
A public garden in City Park with themed plant collections and art deco features
New Orleans, 🇺🇸 United States · Botanical garden
Place
Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum
A living museum of Sonoran Desert plants and animals near Tucson, Arizona
Tucson, 🇺🇸 United States · Botanical garden
Place
Myriad Botanical Gardens
A 15-acre botanical garden in downtown Oklahoma City with a tropical conservatory
Oklahoma City, 🇺🇸 United States · Botanical garden
Place
Powell Gardens
A 970-acre botanical garden near Kansas City, Missouri
Kansas City, 🇺🇸 United States · Botanical garden
Place
National Tropical Botanical Garden
A network of tropical plant gardens and preserves in Hawaii and Florida
Coconut Grove, 🇺🇸 United States · Botanical garden
Photo credits on this page
The small pictures above come from Wikimedia Commons under free licences. Some are cropped to fit.
- Longwood Gardens: P. Hughes, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
- Dumbarton Oaks: Boucher, Jack E. (as "creator" of the work), National Park Service, US, Public domain, source
- Hillwood Estate, Museum & Gardens: Jllm06, Public domain, source
- Callaway Gardens: Thomsonmg2000, CC0, source
- San Antonio Botanical Garden: Zereshk, CC BY 2.5, source
- Denver Botanic Gardens: Laurascudder, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
- Crested Butte: RON RAFFETY, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
- Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum: Unknown author, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
- Antelope Valley California Poppy Reserve: Thomas, CC BY 2.0, source
- Anza-Borrego Desert State Park: No machine-readable author provided. Miskatonic assumed (based on copy, CC BY 2.5, source
- International Rose Test Garden: PiccoloNamek, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
- San Diego Botanic Garden: Bovlb, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
- Olbrich Botanical Gardens: Chief-O at English Wikipedia, Public domain, source
- Bellevue Botanical Garden: Heptazane at English Wikipedia, Public domain, source
- Holden Arboretum: Chris Light, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
- Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden: Eli Christman, CC BY 2.0, source
- Great Craggy Mountains: Thomson200, CC0, source
- Roan Mountain: Brian Stansberry, CC BY 2.5, source
- New Orleans Botanical Garden: Reading Tom, CC BY 2.0, source
- Powell Gardens: Richard, CC BY 2.0, source
- Allerton Garden: Daderot., CC BY-SA 3.0, source
- Foster Botanical Garden: Daderot., CC BY-SA 3.0, source
- Vizcaya Museum and Gardens: Ebyabe, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
- Los Angeles County Arboretum and Botanic Garden: Daderot (talk / contribs), CC BY-SA 3.0, source
- Mendocino Coast Botanical Gardens: Allie Caulfield, CC BY 2.0, source
- Tyler Municipal Rose Garden: Larry D. Moore, CC BY 4.0, source
- Exposition Park Rose Garden: Los Angeles, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
- Crystal Springs Rhododendron Garden: Adumbvoget, Public domain, source
- Green Animals Topiary Garden: Brian Feathers, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
- Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park: User Jeffness on en.wikipedia, CC BY-SA 2.5, source
- Wave Hill: Antigng, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
- Fort Worth Botanic Garden: Renelibrary, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
- Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden: Chris M Morris, CC BY 2.0, source
- Bok Tower Gardens: Averette, CC BY 3.0, source
- Lincoln Park Conservatory: Alanscottwalker, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
- Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens: CMBG editor, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
- Norfolk Botanical Garden: MamaGeek at en.wikipedia, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
- Highland Park: Unknown author, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
- Lei: possibly Fernando Le Bleux, Public domain, source
- Washington Park Arboretum: Steve Ginn, CC0, source
- Cheekwood Botanical Garden and Museum of Art: Unknown author, Public domain, source
- Lauritzen Gardens: John Severns ( Severnjc at en.wikipedia ), CC BY 2.5, source
- Gardens of the World: TOLocal, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
- Conservatory Garden: Summ, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
- Myriad Botanical Gardens: Caleb Long, CC BY-SA 2.5, source
- Garvan Woodland Gardens: Nngowen, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
- Hawaii Tropical Botanical Garden: Joey Gannon, CC BY-SA 2.0, source
- Morris Arboretum: Daderot, CC0, source
- University of Minnesota Landscape Arboretum: SEWilco, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
- New York 28th Street Flower District: Beyond My Ken, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
- New York Botanical Garden: Anthony22 at English Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
- Huntington Botanical Gardens: By Aaron Logan, CC BY 1.0, source