Top 20 Most Popular Spring Flowers in Chicago

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Top 20 Most Popular Spring Flowers in Chicago

As Chicago thaws from its wintry grip, Spring breathes new life across the urban expanse, painting the city in a sweep of verdant hues. The Common milkweed heralds the season's arrival with vibrant splashes, while Mayapple adds a delicate texture to the concrete jungle. Butterfly weed captures the essence of Chicago's reawakening, its blooms an emblem of the city's enduring energy and resilience in the face of change.

Most Popular Spring Flowers

Common milkweed

1. Common milkweed

Asclepias syriaca, commonly known as common milkweed, is a flowering perennial herbaceous plant native to North America. It contains milky latex which can be toxic to sheep, cows, and other larger mammals (including humans) if it is consumed in large amounts. Many insect species are attracted to common milkweed, most notably monarch butterflies.

Late spring, Summer, Fall

Mayapple

With only two leaves and one flower, the mayapple is showy and unique. The name stems from the blooming time in the Northern Hemisphere and the fact that the flowers resemble those of apple trees. The fruit of the mayapple that develops over the summer can, if fully ripened, be used in jams and jellies, while the unripe fruit and other parts of this plant are all poisonous and could cause vomiting, diarrhea, and even coma.

Virginia bluebells

3. Virginia bluebells

The virginia bluebells is a woodland wildflower that blooms for a short period during spring before returning to its dormant state. The flowers start as purplish-pink buds that open into subtly-scented, trumpet-shaped sky blue blossoms. It was known to be used by the Cherokee in the treatment of certain ailments.

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Butterfly weed

4. Butterfly weed

While Asclepias tuberosa is commonly referred to as butterfly weed, it is also known as Canada root, Indian posy, silky swallow-wort, yellow milkweed, butterfly love, white-root and a variety of other names. Both Native Americans and pioneers would use the butterfly weed to make candle wicks.

Late spring, Summer, Fall

Common blue violet

5. Common blue violet

The common blue violet is an attractive wildflower known for its blue to purplish white hues. It is common in North America, where it is sometimes associated with a weed. The plant is popular as an ornamental, and it is a state flower in several states in the US. Its flowers and leaves are edible and safe to be planted near pets.

Spring, Early summer

Virginia springbeauty

6. Virginia springbeauty

Virginia springbeauty (Claytonia virginica) has tiny underground tubers (kind of like potatoes) that taste like chestnuts and are utterly delicious. Early American colonists consumed them, but only when they were desperate because it took a lot of time to collect enough for a meal. Its genus name is in honor of John Clayton, who made essential contributions to the study of plants.

Wild geranium

7. Wild geranium

The wild geranium is a perennial woodland plant native to eastern North America. It has been historically used in ritual ceremonies by Native Americans. Many cultivars have been selected for horticulture usage due to their unique flowers and beaklike seed pods. Among the geraniums, wild geranium has the largest flowers.

Late spring, Early summer, Mid summer

Black-eyed susan

8. Black-eyed susan

The black-eyed susan is a flowering black and yellow plant with curving leaves. It is culturally important in the Southern U.S., and is often used to attract butterflies to gardens. It long ago spread throughout North America and much of the world. Black-eyed susan is the state flower of Maryland and was important in the history of the University of Southern Mississippi.

Late spring, Summer, Fall

Garden phlox

9. Garden phlox

The garden phlox is a flowering plant that is native to the United States. The name, phlox, comes from the Latin for "flame," reflecting its bright colors. Garden phlox flowers can become important food sources for insects and hummingbirds.

Mid spring, Late spring, Summer

Swamp milkweed

10. Swamp milkweed

Swamp milkweed (Asclepias incarnata) is a plant species native to Canada and the continental United States. Swamp milkweed attract butterflies with its nectar. Swamp milkweed gives off a subtle vanilla scent. The stems contain a poisonous milky sap.

Late spring, Summer, Fall

Bloodroot

Bloodroot (Sanguinaria canadensis) is a plant species native to eastern North America. In the wild its early spring blooms can be seen spreading across the forest floor or along riverbanks. Its common name comes from its reddish orange-sap, which can be made into a dye. Bloodroot seeds are often spread by ants who take them back to their nests.

Foxglove beardtongue

12. Foxglove beardtongue

Foxglove beardtongue (Penstemon digitalis) is an herbaceous plant related to plantains. Penstemon digitalis means "finger-like" due to the plant's flowers resemblance to the fingers of a gloved hand. Foxglove beardtongue is easily grown and often cultivated on roadsides for landscaping purposes.

Mid spring, Late spring, Summer

Amur honeysuckle

13. Amur honeysuckle

Amur honeysuckle is a massively-branched, perennial shrub with dark green leaves, aromatic white flowers, and luscious burgundy berries that are inedible to humans but relished by birds propagating the seeds. This East Asian native shrub has been utilized in landscape decoration, wildlife cover, and erosion control. However, it is no longer recommended for planting due to invasiveness issues.

Mid spring, Late spring, Summer

Common dandelion

14. Common dandelion

*Taraxacum officinale*, widely known as common dandelion, is a herbaceous perennial that can be found in temperate regions all over the world, in habitats with moist soils. The most popular feature of this plant is its fruits, furry spheres that are easily carried by the wind. Although it is generally considered a weed, common dandelion is actually edible and very nutritious.

Spring, Early summer, Mid summer

Ohio spiderwort

15. Ohio spiderwort

Tradescantia ohiensis is named after John Tradescant (1608 - 1662), the gardener to King Charles 1. This cheerful blue flowering plant is common along roadsides, in ditches and makes a great addition to any garden. It has a unique tendency to bloom in the morning and then close in the afternoon sun.

Late spring, Summer

Gray-headed Coneflower

16. Gray-headed Coneflower

The yellow coneflower is also known as a gray-headed Coneflower or Ratibida pinnata. The coneflower has showy yellow flowers with petals that look like they are drooping. These plants are drought resistant and easy to grow. The bright cheery flowers are in the daisy family and work great in cut flower arrangements.

Late spring, Summer, Early fall, Mid fall

Ditch lily

The ditch lily is a perennial plant known for its captivating lily-like blooms. Its natural habitats are meadows and forests, but it is also a common garden plant in temperate regions around the world. Each individual flower lasts only a day, but the plant will bloom new ones for weeks. Ditch lily's young buds and flowers are edible either raw or cooked. As a bonus to vegetarians, the flowers contain more fats than most vegetables.

Late spring, Early summer, Mid summer

Cutleaf toothwort

18. Cutleaf toothwort

Cutleaf toothwort (Cardamine concatenata) is a perennial wildflower that attracts bees, butterflies, caterpillars and other insects. Insects are attracted to the sweet nectar from this flower. Cutleaf toothwort reproduces by rhizomes and through seeds. Its common name comes from its tooth-shaped edible rhizomes. The rhizomes have a peppery taste and can be added to salads and other foods.

Common yarrow

19. Common yarrow

Common yarrow is a wildflower that has feathery leaves and flowers in white, yellow or pink. In China, the plant is considered to be good luck while for some time in Scotland it was believed to have magical properties. It has been brewed into beer, tea, and liquors, but it has low toxicity. Do not consume in large quantities. Common yarrow's bitter leaves are toxic to pets and horses. Other livestock can eat it, though it gives cow milk an unpleasant flavor.

Late spring, Summer

Virginia waterleaf

20. Virginia waterleaf

Virginia waterleaf (Hydrophyllum virginianum) is a native North American flowering herb that grows in the eastern United States. The plant spreads through underground root structures to form large colonies in the wild. When exposed to sunlight, the flowers of the species bleach their color.

Spring, Summer, Fall

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