Alfalfa (Medicago sativa) is in the Legumes family (Fabaceae). Across the U.S., iNaturalist users have logged 1,144 research-grade flowering observations of it in our sample, peaking in June.
Nationally it blooms mainly from June to September, but timing varies a lot by state and elevation — see the table below.
When to photograph Alfalfa: observations by month (U.S.)
About Alfalfa
Alfalfa /ælˈfælfə/, Medicago sativa also called lucerne, is a perennial flowering plant in the pea family Fabaceae cultivated as an important forage crop in many countries around the world. It is used for grazing, hay, and silage, as well as a green manure and cover crop. The name alfalfa is used in North America. The name lucerne is the more commonly used name in the United Kingdom, South Africa, Australia, and New Zealand. The plant superficially...From Wikipedia via iNaturalist — article, CC BY-SA.
Alfalfa by state
| State | Observations | Peak month | Main season |
|---|---|---|---|
| Utah | 227 | June | May–Oct |
| Colorado | 150 | June | Jun–Oct |
| California | 141 | June | Jun–Aug |
| Vermont | 78 | July | Jun–Sep |
| Minnesota | 56 | June | Jun–Sep |
| New York | 41 | June | Jun–Jul |
| Washington | 37 | June | Jun–Sep |
| Illinois | 34 | June | Jun–Jul |
| North Dakota | 34 | July | Jul–Aug |
| New Mexico | 28 | June | Jun–Aug |
| Wyoming | 28 | July | Jun–Aug |
| Wisconsin | 26 | June | Jun–Aug |
| Idaho | 25 | October | Oct–Oct |
| Ohio | 23 | July | Jun–Jul |
| Michigan | 22 | June | Jun–Jul |
| Montana | 18 | June | Jun–Oct |
| Pennsylvania | 18 | July | Jun–Sep |
| Massachusetts | 17 | July | Jun–Sep |
| South Dakota | 17 | July | May–Jul |
| Iowa | 15 | June | Jun–Jul |
| Arizona | 14 | August | Jun–Sep |
| Maryland | 14 | June | May–Jul |
| Nevada | 10 | June | Jun–Jun |
| New Jersey | 10 | July | Jun–Jul |
| Oregon | 9 | September | Aug–Oct |
| Nebraska | 8 | June | May–Sep |
| Indiana | 7 | June | Jun–Sep |
| Maine | 7 | July | Jun–Jul |
| West Virginia | 6 | June | Jun–Aug |
Main season = months with at least 30% of the state's peak-month count.
Related wildflowers (Legumes)
White Clover
Red Clover
Texas bluebonnet
Bird's-Foot Trefoil
Rose Clover
Tomcat Clover
American hog-peanut
Purple Crownvetch
Photography tips
- Photograph flowers on calm, overcast mornings to avoid wind blur and harsh shadows.
- Get low: a shallow depth of field (f/2.8–f/5.6) isolates a bloom against soft color.
- Stay on trails — trampling meadows kills plants and ruins next year's display.
- Try a kaleidoscope abstract of a single bloom with our online kaleidoscope tool.
FAQ
When is the best time to photograph Alfalfa?
Nationally, June has the most observations, with the main season from June to September.
Where is Alfalfa most often seen?
The most observations come from Utah, Colorado, California.