Bastard Toadflax (Comandra umbellata) is in the sandalwood family family (Santalaceae). Across the U.S., iNaturalist users have logged 916 research-grade flowering observations of it in our sample, peaking in May.
Nationally it blooms mainly from May to June, but timing varies a lot by state and elevation — see the table below.
When to photograph Bastard Toadflax: observations by month (U.S.)
About Bastard Toadflax
Comandra is a monotypic genus containing the single species Comandra umbellata. Its common names include bastard toadflax, umbellate bastard toadflax, and common comandra. The plant has a disjunct distribution; its four subspecies occur in North America and the Mediterranean.From Wikipedia via iNaturalist — article, CC BY-SA.
Bastard Toadflax by state
| State | Observations | Peak month | Main season |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wisconsin | 94 | May | May–Jun |
| Colorado | 78 | May | Apr–Jun |
| Oregon | 78 | May | Apr–May |
| Minnesota | 73 | May | May–Jun |
| Utah | 61 | April | Apr–Jun |
| Massachusetts | 47 | June | May–Jun |
| Nevada | 44 | May | Apr–Jul |
| Pennsylvania | 41 | May | May–Jun |
| Illinois | 40 | May | Apr–May |
| Washington | 39 | May | Apr–May |
| Arizona | 35 | May | Apr–May |
| Michigan | 34 | June | May–Jun |
| New York | 32 | May | May–Jun |
| Maine | 25 | June | Jun–Jun |
| Vermont | 22 | May | May–May |
| North Dakota | 19 | May | May–Jun |
| Maryland | 14 | May | Apr–May |
| Missouri | 14 | May | Apr–May |
| New Jersey | 14 | May | May–May |
| New Hampshire | 10 | June | Jun–Jun |
| Indiana | 9 | May | May–May |
| North Carolina | 9 | April | Apr–May |
| Arkansas | 8 | April | Apr–May |
| Iowa | 8 | May | May–Jun |
| Montana | 8 | May | May–Jun |
| Kentucky | 7 | April | Apr–May |
| Virginia | 7 | May | May–May |
| Idaho | 6 | May | Apr–Jun |
| New Mexico | 6 | April | Apr–May |
| Ohio | 6 | May | Apr–May |
| South Dakota | 6 | May | May–May |
Main season = months with at least 30% of the state's peak-month count.
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 Bastard Toadflax?
Nationally, May has the most observations, with the main season from May to June.
Where is Bastard Toadflax most often seen?
The most observations come from Wisconsin, Colorado, Oregon.