About
Colorado Wildflower Search is a comprehensive plant identification app developed by Wildflower Search for iPhone and iPad. Designed for outdoor explorers, students, and plant enthusiasts, the app covers 3,313 species native to or found in Colorado — including 1,989 wildflowers, 242 shrubs, 116 broadleaf trees, 22 conifers, 24 vines, 464 grass-like plants, 57 fern-like, 219 moss-like, 17 cacti, and 247 lichens. Users can identify plants by inputting observable characteristics such as flower color, geographic location, elevation range, and time of year. The app then filters and displays matching species, making it practical for on-trail use. Each plant page includes photos, scientific names (kept up to date), USDA plant codes, distribution maps, and detailed descriptions sourced from resources like Virginia Tech FREC and Flora of North America. The app supports English, French, and Spanish, and integrates with PlantLists.org for list management. It is regularly updated with new species, corrected ranges, expanded photos, and improved maps. Colorado Wildflower Search is best suited for hikers, naturalists, educators, and students who want a reliable offline-friendly reference for Colorado's diverse plant life.
Key Features
- Multi-Characteristic Plant Search: Filter 3,313 Colorado plant species by flower color, geographic location, elevation, and time of year to quickly identify what you're seeing on the trail.
- Extensive Species Database: Covers wildflowers, shrubs, broadleaf trees, conifers, vines, grasses, ferns, mosses, cacti, and lichens found throughout Colorado.
- Detailed Plant Pages: Each species page includes photos, scientific names, USDA plant codes, distribution maps, and descriptions sourced from authoritative references like Flora of North America.
- Multilingual Support: Available in English, French, and Spanish, making it accessible to a broader range of users and international visitors.
- Regular Database Updates: Frequently updated with new species, corrected elevation ranges, updated scientific names, improved maps, and expanded plant photos.
Use Cases
- Identifying unknown wildflowers or plants encountered while hiking in Colorado's mountains, forests, or plains.
- Teaching students about Colorado native plants during field trips or outdoor education programs.
- Supporting amateur and professional botanists in cataloging and verifying plant species by location and elevation.
- Helping nature photographers accurately label and document the plants they photograph on Colorado trails.
- Assisting land managers, conservationists, or volunteers in monitoring plant diversity in Colorado ecosystems.
Pros
- Comprehensive Colorado Coverage: With 3,313 species across multiple plant categories, it is one of the most thorough Colorado-specific plant reference apps available.
- Completely Free: The app is free to download and use with no paywalls or in-app purchases required to access the full database.
- Regularly Updated: The developer actively adds species, corrects data, and improves the database, keeping the app current with evolving botanical nomenclature.
Cons
- No Color-Browse Mode: Users cannot simply browse plants grouped by color alone; multi-characteristic input is required, which can be cumbersome during a quick trail encounter.
- Some Species Missing: User reviews note that certain common Colorado wildflowers are absent or difficult to locate within the app's current database.
Frequently Asked Questions
How does Colorado Wildflower Search help identify plants?
You enter observable characteristics of the plant — such as flower color, your location, elevation, and the current month — and the app filters its database of 3,313 species to show you the best matches.
Is the app free to use?
Yes, Colorado Wildflower Search is completely free to download and use on iPhone and iPad with no in-app purchases.
What types of plants does the app cover?
The app covers wildflowers, shrubs, broadleaf trees, conifers, vines, grass-like plants, fern-like plants, moss-like plants, cacti, and lichens found in Colorado — over 3,313 species in total.
Does the app work offline?
The app stores its plant database locally on your device, making it usable in areas with limited or no cell coverage — ideal for remote Colorado trails.
Is Colorado Wildflower Search available on devices other than iPhone?
The app is designed for iPhone and iPad. It is also listed as available on Mac, though the developer notes it has not been verified for macOS.
