Forbs are flowering, non-grassy “herbaceous” plants, which means they produce seeds and have stems and leaves that die back at the end of each growing season (versus woody plants, whose stems remain year after year). Informally, forbs are what most people call wildflowers.

Disclaimer

The photos used below are the property of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), the individual photographers of the USDA, and respective individual contributors of the Wikimedia Commons. The usage of these photos is for education purposes only. The University of Iowa Office of Sustainability does not claim credit to any of the photo sources.

Image of meadow garlic flowers by the UDSA

Meadow Garlic

Allium canadense

Plant type: Forb

Native/Invasive: Native

Sowed: Spring 2020

Observed: No

USDA image of Prairie Indian Plantain

Prairie Indian Plantain

Arnoglossum plantagineum

Plant type: Forb

Native/Invasive: Native

Sowed: Spring 2020

Observed: No

USDA image of rose or swamp milkweed flowers

Rose or Swamp Milkweed

Asclepias incarnata

Plant type: Forb

Native/Invasive: Native

Sowed: Spring 2020

Observed: Yes

USDA image of common milkweed flower with butterfly

Common Milkweed

Asclepias syriaca

Plant type: Forb

Native/Invasive: Native

Sowed: Self-seeded

Observed: Yes

USDA image of butterfly milkweed flowers with insect

Butterfly Milkweed

Asclepias tuberosa

Plant type: Forb

Native/Invasive: Native

Sowed: Fall 2021

Observed: Yes

USDA image of whorled milkweed

Whorled Milkweed

Asclepias verticillata

Plant type: Forb

Native/Invasive: Native

Sowed: Spring 2020

Observed: Yes

USDA image of Canadian milkvetch

Canadian Milkvetch

Astragalus canadensis

Plant type: Forb

Native/Invasive: Native

Sowed: Spring 2020

Observed: Yes

USDA image of White Wild Indigo

White Wild Indigo

Baptisia alba

Plant type: Forb

Native/Invasive: Native

Sowed: Spring 2020

Observed: Yes

USDA image of long-bract wild indigo

Longbract Wild Indigo

Baptisia bracteata

Plant type: Forb

Native/Invasive: Native

Sowed: Spring 2020

Observed: No

USDA image of false boneset plant

False Boneset

Brickellia eupatorioides

Plant type: Forb

Native/Invasive: Native

Sowed: Fall 2021

Observed: Yes

USDA image of scarlet indian paintbrush flower

Scarlet Indian Paintbrush

Castilleja coccinea

Plant type: Forb

Native/Invasive: Native

Sowed: Spring 2020

Observed: Yes

USDA image of partridge pea flowers

Partridge Pea

Chamaecrista fasciculata

Plant type: Forb

Native/Invasive: Native

Sowed: Fall 2021

Observed: Yes

USDA image of stiff tickseed or prairie coreopsis flowers

Stiff Tickseed or Prairie Coreopsis

Coreopsis palmata

Plant type: Forb

Native/Invasive: Native

Sowed: Spring 2020

Observed: Yes

USDA image of arrowhead rattlebox plant

Arrowhead Rattlebox

Crotalaria sagittalis

Plant type: Forb

Native/Invasive: Native

Sowed: Fall 2021

Observed: No

USDA image of white prairie clover

White Prairie Clover

Dalea candida

Plant type: Forb

Native/Invasive: Native

Sowed: Spring 2020

Observed: Yes

USDA image or purple prairie clover flower

Purple Prairie Clover

Dalea purpurea

Plant type: Forb

Native/Invasive: Native

Sowed: Fall 2021

Observed: No

USDA image of prairie cinquefoil

Prairie Cinquefoil

Drymocallis arguta

Plant type: Forb

Native/Invasive: Native

Sowed: Fall 2021

Observed: Yes

USDA image of narrow-leaved coneflower

Narrow-leaved Coneflower

Echinacea angustifolia

Plant type: Forb

Native/Invasive: Native

Sowed: Fall 2021

Observed: No

USDA image of cinnamon willow herb

Cinnamon Willow-Herb

Epilobium coloratum

Plant type: Forb

Native/Invasive: Native

Sowed: Fall 2021

Observed: No

USDA image of annual fleabane

Annual Fleabane

Erigeron annuus

Plant type: Forb

Native/Invasive: Native

Sowed: Self-seeded

Observed: Yes

USDA image of philadelphia fleabane

Philadelphia Fleabane

Erigeron philadelphicus

Plant type: Forb

Native/Invasive: Native

Sowed: Self-seeded

Observed: Yes

USDA image of daisy fleabane

Daisy Fleabane

Erigeron strigosus

Plant type: Forb

Native/Invasive: Native

Sowed: Self-seeded

Observed: Yes

USDA image of rattlesnake master

Rattlesnake Master

Eryngium yuccifolium

Plant type: Forb

Native/Invasive: Native

Sowed: Spring 2020

Observed: Yes

USDA image of Tall boneset flowers

Tall Boneset

Eupatorium altissimum

Plant type: Forb

Native/Invasive: Native

Sowed: Fall 2021

Observed: Yes

USDA image of flowering spurge

Flowering Spurge

Euphorbia corollata

Plant type: Forb

Native/Invasive: Native

Sowed: Fall 2021

Observed: No

USDA image of flat-top goldenrod

Flat-top Goldenrod

Euthamia graminifolia

Plant type: Forb

Native/Invasive: Native

Sowed: Spring 2020

Observed: Yes

USDA image of bottle gentian

Bottle Gentian

Gentiana andrewsii

Plant type: Forb

Native/Invasive: Native

Sowed: Spring 2020

Observed: No

USDA image of cream gentian

Cream Gentian

Gentiana flavida

Plant type: Forb

Native/Invasive: Native

Sowed: Spring 2020

Observed: Yes

USDA image of sneezeweed flowers

Sneezeweed

Helenium autumnale

Plant type: Forb

Native/Invasive: Native

Sowed: Fall 2021

Observed: Yes

USDA image of spotted or dotted st. john's wort

Spotted or Dotted St. John's Wort

Hypericum punctatum

Plant type: Forb

Native/Invasive: Native

Sowed: Spring 2020

Observed: Yes

USDA image of round-headed bushclover

Round-headed Bush Clover

Lespedeza capitata

Plant type: Forb

Native/Invasive: Native

Sowed: Fall 2021

Observed: Yes

USDA image of tall or button blazing star

Tall or Button Blazing Star

Liatris aspera

Plant type: Forb

Native/Invasive: Native

Sowed: Spring 2020

Observed: No

USDA image of prairie blazing star

Prairie Blazing Star

Liatris pycnostachya

Plant type: Forb

Native/Invasive: Native

Sowed: Spring 2020

Observed: Yes

USDA image of Indian tobacco

Indian Tobacco

Lobelia inflata

Plant type: Forb

Native/Invasive: Native

Sowed: Fall 2021

Observed: Yes

USDA image of great blue lobelia

Great Blue Lobelia

Lobelia siphilitica

Plant type: Forb

Native/Invasive: Native

Sowed: Spring 2020

Observed: Yes

USDA image of pale spiked lobelia

Pale Spiked Lobelia

Lobelia spicata

Plant type: Forb

Native/Invasive: Native

Sowed: Spring 2020

Observed: Yes

USDA image of wild bergamot flower

Wild Bergamot

Monarda fistulosa

Plant type: Forb

Native/Invasive: Native

Sowed: Spring 2020

Observed: Yes

USDA image of spotted bee balm

Spotted Bee Balm

Monarda punctata

Plant type: Forb

Native/Invasive: Native

Sowed: Fall 2021

Observed: Yes

USDA image of meadow evening primrose flower

Prairie Sundrops or Meadow Evening Primrose

Oenothera pilosella

Plant type: Forb

Native/Invasive: Native

Sowed: Spring 2020

Observed: Yes

USDA image of riddell's golenrod plant

Riddell's Goldenrod

Solidago riddellii ("Oligoneuron riddellii")

Plant type: Forb

Native/Invasive: Native

Sowed: Fall 2021

Observed: Yes

USDA image of stiff goldenrod flowers

Stiff Goldenrod

Solidago rigida ("Oligoneuron rigidum")

Plant type: Forb

Native/Invasive: Native

Sowed: Spring 2020

Observed: Yes

USDA image of marbleseed plant

Marbleseed

Obosmodium molle

Plant type: Forb

Native/Invasive: Native

Sowed: Fall 2021

Observed: No

USDA image of wild quinine

Wild Quinine

Parthenium integrifolium

Plant type: Forb

Native/Invasive: Native

Sowed: Spring 2020

Observed: Yes

USDA image of wood betony

Canadian Lousewort or Wood Betony

Pedicularis canadensis

Plant type: Forb

Native/Invasive: Native

Sowed: Fall 2021

Observed: Yes

USDA image of swamp lousewort

Swamp Lousewort or Marsh Betony

Pedicularis lanceolata

Plant type: Forb

Native/Invasive: Native

Sowed: Spring 2020

Observed: No

USDA image of foxglove beardtongue

Foxglove Beardtongue

Penstemon digitalis

Plant type: Forb

Native/Invasive: Native

Sowed: Fall 2021

Observed: Yes

UDSA image of wild sweet william flowers

Wild Sweet William

Phlox maculata

Plant type: Forb

Native/Invasive: Native

Sowed: Spring 2020

Observed: No

USDA image of prairie phlox

Prairie Phlox

Phlox pilosa

Plant type: Forb

Native/Invasive: Native

Sowed: Fall 2021

Observed: No

USDA image of slender mountain mint

Slender Mountain Mint

Pycnanthemum tenuifolium

Plant type: Forb

Native/Invasive: Native

Sowed: Fall 2021

Observed: Yes

USDA image of mountain mint plant

Virginia Mountain Mint

Pycnanthemum virginianum

Plant type: Forb

Native/Invasive: Native

Sowed: Spring 2020

Observed: Yes

USDA image of long-headed coneflower

Long-headed Coneflower

Ratibida columnifera

Plant type: Forb

Native/Invasive: Native

Sowed: Fall 2021

Observed: Yes

USDA image of black-eyed susan flower

Black-eyed Susan

Rudbeckia hirta

Plant type: Forb

Native/Invasive: Native

Sowed: Spring 2020

Observed: Yes

USDA image of wild petunia flower

Wild Petunia

Ruellia humilis

Plant type: Forb

Native/Invasive: Native

Sowed: Fall 2021

Observed: No

USDA image of canada goldenrod

Canada Goldenrod

Solidago canadensis

Plant type: Forb

Native/Invasive: Native

Sowed: Self-seeded

Observed: Yes

USDA image of sky blue aster

Sky Blue Aster

Symphyotrichum oolentangiese

Plant type: Forb

Native/Invasive: Native

Sowed: Spring 2020

Observed: Yes

USDA image of willow aster

Willow Aster

Symphyotrichum praealtum

Plant type: Forb

Native/Invasive: Native

Sowed: Spring 2020

Observed: No

USDA image of silky aster flowers

Silky Aster

Symphyotrichum sericeum

Plant type: Forb

Native/Invasive: Native

Sowed: Fall 2021

Observed: Yes

USDA image of goat's rue

Goat's Rue

Tephrosia virginiana

Plant type: Forb

Native/Invasive: Native

Sowed: Fall 2021

Observed: No

USDA image of Ohio spiderwort flower

Ohio Spiderwort or Bluejacket

Tradescantia ohiensis

Plant type: Forb

Native/Invasive: Native

Sowed: Spring 2020

Observed: Yes

USDA image of hoary vervain flowers

Hoary Vervain

Verbena stricta

Plant type: Forb

Native/Invasive: Native

Sowed: Spring 2020

Observed: Yes

USDA image of white vervain

White Vervain

Verbena urticifolia

Plant type: Forb

Native/Invasive: Native

Sowed: Self-seeded

Observed: Yes

USDA image of prairie violet

Prairie Violet

Viola pedatifida

Plant type: Forb

Native/Invasive: Native

Sowed: Spring 2020

Observed: No

USDA image of heart-leaf golden alexander

Heart-leaf Golden Alexanders

Zizia aptera

Plant type: Forb

Native/Invasive: Native

Sowed: Fall 2021

Observed: Yes

USDA image of golden alexander plant

Golden Alexanders

Zizia aurea

Plant type: Forb

Native/Invasive: Native

Sowed: Spring 2020

Observed: Yes