Arctic Butterbur (Petasites frigidus) is in the Sunflowers, Daisies, Asters, and Allies family (Asteraceae). Across the U.S., iNaturalist users have logged 1,324 research-grade flowering observations of it in our sample, peaking in April.
Nationally it blooms mainly from March to June, but timing varies a lot by state and elevation — see the table below.
When to photograph Arctic Butterbur: observations by month (U.S.)
About Arctic Butterbur
Petasites frigidus, the Arctic sweet coltsfoot or Arctic butterbur, is a species of Petasites native to Arctic to cool temperate regions of the Northern Hemisphere in northern Europe, northern Asia and northern North America.From Wikipedia via iNaturalist — article, CC BY-SA.
Arctic Butterbur by state
| State | Observations | Peak month | Main season |
|---|---|---|---|
| California | 310 | March | Mar–Apr |
| Alaska | 276 | June | May–Jul |
| Washington | 276 | April | Mar–May |
| Oregon | 247 | April | Mar–Apr |
| Minnesota | 126 | May | May–May |
| Michigan | 56 | May | May–May |
| Wisconsin | 27 | May | May–May |
| Montana | 5 | May | May–May |
Main season = months with at least 30% of the state's peak-month count.
Related wildflowers (Sunflowers, Daisies, Asters, and Allies)
black-eyed Susan
Common Yarrow
White Snakeroot
Chicory
Lawn daisy
Philadelphia fleabane
Pearly Everlasting
Blue Mistflower
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 Arctic Butterbur?
Nationally, April has the most observations, with the main season from March to June.
Where is Arctic Butterbur most often seen?
The most observations come from California, Alaska, Washington.