Aniseroot (Osmorhiza longistylis) is in the carrot family family (Apiaceae). Across the U.S., iNaturalist users have logged 1,114 research-grade flowering observations of it in our sample, peaking in May.
Nationally it blooms mainly from April to May, but timing varies a lot by state and elevation — see the table below.
When to photograph Aniseroot: observations by month (U.S.)
About Aniseroot
Osmorhiza longistylis is a perennial herb of Eastern North America and the Rocky Mountains region. It is known as aniseroot, longstyle sweetroot, American sweet cicely, licorice root, wild anise, or simply sweet cicely, a name that applies to other members of its genus Osmorhiza generally.From Wikipedia via iNaturalist — article, CC BY-SA.
Aniseroot by state
| State | Observations | Peak month | Main season |
|---|---|---|---|
| North Carolina | 267 | April | Apr–May |
| Virginia | 110 | April | Apr–May |
| Illinois | 107 | May | Apr–May |
| Pennsylvania | 107 | May | May–May |
| Kentucky | 93 | April | Apr–Apr |
| Wisconsin | 71 | May | May–May |
| West Virginia | 55 | May | Apr–May |
| Ohio | 49 | May | Apr–May |
| Maryland | 40 | April | Apr–May |
| Minnesota | 26 | May | May–Jun |
| Indiana | 25 | May | Apr–May |
| Tennessee | 24 | April | Apr–Apr |
| Alabama | 17 | April | Mar–Apr |
| Michigan | 17 | May | May–May |
| Iowa | 14 | May | May–May |
| Missouri | 14 | May | Apr–May |
| District of Columbia | 11 | April | Apr–May |
| New York | 11 | May | May–May |
| Delaware | 10 | May | May–May |
| Arkansas | 9 | April | Apr–Apr |
| Georgia | 8 | April | Apr–May |
| Vermont | 7 | May | May–Jun |
| Mississippi | 5 | April | Mar–Apr |
| New Jersey | 5 | May | May–May |
Main season = months with at least 30% of the state's peak-month count.
Related wildflowers (carrot family)
Wild Carrot
Poison Hemlock
Harbinger of Spring
Common Cowparsnip
golden Alexanders
Purple Sanicle
Wild Parsnip
Pacific Sanicle
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 Aniseroot?
Nationally, May has the most observations, with the main season from April to May.
Where is Aniseroot most often seen?
The most observations come from North Carolina, Virginia, Illinois.