Identifying Common Roadside Plants by Bloom Color

It’s easy to get caught up in the pace of day-to-day life.

If it’s not our hectic schedules, then it’s dealing with mundane routines like the daily commute.

Look familiar?

But if you look just a bit closer – you might notice something new. Whether it’s along a route you’ve driven for years, or along a road you’ve never taken before.

The roadside might seem to be only an extension of the monotony of the road itself. But as you travel, you’ll notice islands of color formed by the plants along the road.

This monthly series by Molly Hacker highlights the colorful blooms you might see as you drive through Illinois through the growing season, April through September. It is designed to help you identify common roadside plants by the color of their blooms.

It’s easy! Find your bloom color of interest in the title blocks on each page.

Download the PDF Roadside Botany of Illinois April.