Mystery Plant Archives
Search for, or browse for past mystery plants by year in our archive.
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2021 Mystery Plants
| Month | Botanical Name/Info Link | Common Name |
|---|---|---|
| December 2021 | Chimaphila maculata | Spotted Wintergreen |
| November 2021 | Lycium chinense | Chinese Matrimony Vine |
| October 2021 | Phlox subulata | Creeping Phlox, Moss Phlox |
| September 2021 | Alisma triviale | Northern Water Plantain |
| August 2021 | Aureolaria virginica | Downy False Foxglove |
| July 2021 | Solanum dulcamara | Bittersweet Nightshade |
| June 2021 | Solanum rostratum | Buffalo Bur Nightshade |
| May 2021 | Ilex mucronata | Mountain Holly |
| April 2021 | Pastinaca sativa | Wild Parsnip |
| March 2021 | Prunella vulgaris | Self Heal, Heal-all |
| February 2021 | Saururus cernuus | Lizard’s Tail |
| January 2021 | Carrion Flower |
2020 Mystery Plants
| Month | Botanical Name/Info Link | Common Name |
|---|---|---|
| December 2020 | Goat’s rue | |
| November 2020 | River-weed | |
| October 2020 | Ditch Stonecrop | |
| September 2020 | Velvety Bush Clover | |
| August 2020 | Sheep’s-bit | |
| July 2020 | Narrow-leaved Bittercress | |
| June 2020 | Dutchmans Pipe | |
| May 2020 | Water-milfoil | |
| April 2020 | Pellitory | |
| March 2020 | Lupinus polyphyllus | Blue Lupine |
| February 2020 | Solidago ulmifolia | Elm-leaved Goldenrod |
| January 2020 | Myrica gale | Sweet Gale |
2019 Mystery Plants
| Month | Botanical Name/Info Link | Common Name |
|---|---|---|
| December 2019 | Mollugo verticillata | Carpetweed |
| November 2019 | Polygala sanguinea | Purple Milkwort |
| October 2019 | Gentiana clausa | Bottle Gentian |
| September 2019 | Helenium flexuosum | Purple-headed Sneezeweed |
| August 2019 | Amorpha fruticosa | False Indigo |
| July 2019 | Commelina communis | Common Dayflower |
| June 2019 | Geum vernum | Spring Avens |
| May 2019 | Ranunculus abortivus | Kidney-leaved Buttercup |
| April 2019 | Eclipta prostrata | False Aster, Yerba-de-tago |
| March 2019 | Epilobium coloratum | Purple Leaved Willow Herb |
| February 2019 | Mimulus ringens | Monkey Flower |
| January 2019 | Viola pedata | Birdfoot Violet |
2018 Mystery Plants
| Month | Botanical Name/Info Link | Common Name |
|---|---|---|
| December 2018 | Sericocarpus asteroides | Toothed White-topped Aster |
| November 2018 | Cephalanthus occidentalis | Buttonbush |
| October 2018 | Grindelia squarrosa | Curly-top Gumweed, Tarweed |
| September 2018 | Zizia aurea | Golden Alexanders |
| August 2018 | Monarda fistulosa | Wild Bergamot |
| July 2018 | Angelica venenosa | Hairy Angelica |
| June 2018 | Saponaria officinalis | Bouncing-Bet, Soapwort |
| May 2018 | Lotus corniculatus | Birdsfoot-trefoil |
| April 2018 | Amphicarpaea bracteata | Hog Peanut |
| March 2018 | Symphiotrichum cordifolium | Heart-leaved Aster |
| February 2018 | Ionactis linariifolius | Stiff Leaved Aster |
| January 2018 | Hypoxis hirsuta | Yellow Star Grass |
2017 Mystery Plants
| Month | Botanical Name/Info Link | Common Name |
|---|---|---|
| December 2017 | Heterotheca subaxillaris | Camphor False Golden-Aster, Camphorweed |
| November 2017 | Collinsonia canadensis | Northern Horse-balm |
| October 2017 | Eurybia macrophylla | Large-leaved Aster |
| September 2017 | Hibiscus moscheutos | Rose Mallow |
| August 2017 | Lilium superbum | Turks Cap Lily |
| July 2017 | Lychnis flos-cuculi | Ragged Robin or Cuckoo Flower |
| June 2017 | Veronica chamaedrys | Birds Eye Speedwell |
| May2017 | Chrysosplenium americanum | Golden Saxifrage |
| April 2017 | Chelidonium majus | Celandine, Greater Celandine |
| March 2017 | Symphyotrichum laeve | Smooth Aster |
| February 2017 | Solidago caesia var. caesia | Wreath Goldenrod, Blue Stem Goldenrod |
| January 2017 | Oxalis violacea | Violet Wood Sorrel |
2016 Mystery Plants
| Month | Botanical Name/Info Link | Common Name |
|---|---|---|
| December 2016 | Rorippa amphibia | Great Yellow Cress |
| November 2016 | Humulus lupulus | Hops |
| October 2016 | Acalypha rhomboidea | Three-seeded Mercury |
| September 2016 | Pluchea odorata | Salt Marsh Fleabane |
| August 2016 | Pseudognaphalium obtusifolium | Sweet Everlasting, Cudweed |
| July 2016 | Decodon verticillatus | Water Willow, Swamp Loosestrife |
| June 2016 | Spergularia rubra | Pink (Red) Sand-spurrey |
| May 2016 | Hedyotis caerulea | Bluets |
| April 2016 | Rhexia virginica | Meadow Beauty |
| March 2016 | Echium vulgare | Viper’s Bugloss |
| February 2016 | Hypopitys languinosa | Hairy Pinesap |
| January 2016 | Drosera intermedia | Spatulate-leaved Sundew |
2015 Mystery Plants
| Month | Botanical Name/Info Link | Common Name |
|---|---|---|
| December 2015 | Isotria verticillata | Large Whorled Pogonia |
| November 2015 | Medicago sativa | Alfalfa |
| October 2015 | Robinia hispida var. hispida | Bristly Locust, Rose Acacia |
| September 2015 | Gratiola aurea | Golden Hedge Hyssop |
| August 2015 | Hudsonia ericoides | Golden Heather |
| July 2015 | Rhodendron canadense | Rhodora |
| June 2015 | Comandra umbellata | Bastard Toadflax |
| May 2015 | Sanguinaria canadensis | Bloodroot |
| April 2015 | Triosteum aurantiacum var. aurantiacum | Orange Horse Gentian, Wild Coffee |
| March 2015 | Ranunculus sceleratus var. sceleratus | Cursed Crowfoot |
| February 2015 | Hackelia viginiana | Virginia Stickseed, Beggars Lice |
| January 2015 | Vernonia noveboracensis | New York Ironweed |
2014 Mystery Plants
| Month | Botanical Name/Info Link | Common Name |
|---|---|---|
| December 2014 | Diphasiastrum digitatum | Creeping Jenny, Southern Ground- cedar |
| November 2014 | Lachnanthes caroliniana | Redroot |
| October 2014 | Chelone glabra | Turtlehead |
| September 2014 | Lapsana communis | Nipplewort |
| August 2014 | Mitchella repens | Partridge-berry |
| July 2014 | Lilium philadelphicum | Wood Lily |
| June 2014 | Maianthemum racemosum ssp. racemosum | False Solomon’s Seal, Wild Spikenard |
| May 2014 | Panax trifolius | Dwarf Ginseng |
| April 2014 | Pyrola americana | Round-leaved Shinleaf |
| March 2014 | Chimaphila maculata | Spotted Pipsissewa, Wintergreen |
| February 2014 | Gaultheria procumbens | Wintergreen, Teaberry |
| January 2014 | Polystichum acrostichoides | Christmas Fern |
2013 Mystery Plants
| Month | Botanical Name/Info Link | Common Name |
|---|---|---|
| December 2013 | Ilex opaca | American Holly |
| November 2013 | Solidago puberula | Downy Goldenrod |
| October 2013 | Mikania scandens | Climbing Hempweed |
| September 2013 | Trichostema dichotomum | Blue Curls |
| August 2013 | Potentilla canadensis | Dwarf Cinquefoil |
| July 2013 | Fragaria virginiana | Strawberry |
| June 2013 | Arctostaphylos uva-ursi | Bearberry |
| May 2013 | Capnoides sempervirens | Corydalis or Rock Harlequin |
| April 2013 | Viola labradorica | American Dog Violet |
| March 2013 | Erythronium americanum | Trout-Lily or Dogtooth Violet |
| February 2013 | Caltha palustris | Marsh Marigold |
| January 2013 | Diodia teres | Buttonweed |
2012 Mystery Plants
| Month | Botanical Name/Info Link | Common Name |
|---|---|---|
| December 2012 | Asclepias amplexicaulis | Clasping Milkweed |
| November 2012 | Corallorhiza odontorhiza | Autumn Coral Root Orchid |
| October 2012 | Strophostyles helvola | Annual Wooly Bean |
| September 2012 | Symphyotrichum tenuifolium | Salt Marsh Aster |
| August 2012 | Equisetum arvense | Field Horsetail |
| July 2012 | Samolus valerandi ssp. parviflorus | Water Pimpernel or Brookweed |
| June 2012 | Micranthes pensylvanica | Swamp Saxifrage |
| May 2012 | Viola rotundifolia | Round-leaved Yellow Violet |
| April 2012 | Draba verna | Whitlow Grass |
| March 2012 | Pityopsis falcata | Sickle-leaved Golden Aster |
| February 2012 | Nuttallanthus canadensis | Blue Toadflax |
| January 2012 | Limosella australis | Atlantic Mudwort |
2011 Mystery Plants
| Month | Botanical Name/Info Link | Common Name |
|---|---|---|
| December 2011 | Penthorum sedoides | Ditch-stonecrop |
| November 2011 | Amelanchier spicata | Dwarf Shadbush |
| October 2011 | Lysimachia terrestris | Swamp Candles |
| September 2011 | Lobelia cardinalis | Cardinal Flower |
| August 2011 | Cirsium horridulum | Yellow Thistle |
| July 2011 | Liriodendron tulipifera | Tulip Tree or Yellow Poplar |
| June 2011 | Asplenium trichomanes | Maidenhair Spleenwort |
| May 2011 | Chamaedaphne calyculata | Leather-leaf or Cassandra |
| April 2011 | Anagallis arvensis | Scarlet Pimpernel |
| March 2011 | Campanula aparinoides | Marsh Bellflower |
| February 2011 | Pontederia cordata | Pickerelweed |
| January 2011 | Alnus incana ssp. rugosa | Speckled Alder |
2010 Mystery Plants
| Month | Botanical Name/Info Link | Common Name |
|---|---|---|
| December 2010 | Euonymus atropurpureus | Eastern Wahoo |
| November 2010 | Hamamelis virginiana | Witch Hazel |
| October 2010 | Diervilla lonicera | Bush Honeysuckle |
| September 2010 | Cirsium muticum | Swamp Thistle |
| August 2010 | Stachys hyssopifolia | Hyssop Hedge-nettle |
| July 2010 | Corallorhiza maculata | Spotted Coralroot |
| June 2010 | Trientalis borealis | Starflower |
| May 2010 | Aquilegia canadensis | Wild Columbine |
| April 2010 | Anemone americana | Hepatica |
| March 2010 | Lychnis flos-cuculi | Ragged Robin |
| February 2010 | Chamaecrista fasciculata | Partridge Pea |
| January 2010 | Geranium carolinianum | Carolina Cranesbill |
2009 Mystery Plants
| Month | Botanical Name/Info Link | Common Name |
|---|---|---|
| December 2009 | Ilex verticillata | Winterberry |
| November 2009 | Vaccinium macrocarpon | Cranberry |
| October 2009 | Echinocystis lobata | Wild Cucumber |
| September 2009 | Apios americana | Groundnut |
| August 2009 | Chimaphila umbellata | Pipsissewa |
| July 2009 | Geum laciniatum | Rough or Floodplain Avens |
| June 2009 | Silene antirrhina | Sleepy Silene |
| May 2009 | Saxifraga virginiensis | Early Saxifrage |
| April 2009 | Thalictrum thalictroides | Rue Anemone |
| March 2009 | Polygala paucifolia | Fringed Polygala; Gaywings |
| February 2009 | Orabanche uniflora | One-flowered Cancer-root |
| January 2009 | Coptis trifolia | Goldthread |
2008 Mystery Plants
| Month | Botanical Name/Info Link | Common Name |
|---|---|---|
| December 2008 | Coreopsis rosea | Rose Coreopsis |
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