Bittersweet Nightshade (Solanum dulcamara) is in the nightshade family family (Solanaceae). Across the U.S., iNaturalist users have logged 4,544 research-grade flowering observations of it in our sample, peaking in June.
Nationally it blooms mainly from May to August, but timing varies a lot by state and elevation — see the table below.
When to photograph Bittersweet Nightshade: observations by month (U.S.)
About Bittersweet Nightshade
Solanum dulcamara, also known as bittersweet, bittersweet nightshade, bitter nightshade, blue bindweed, Amara Dulcis, climbing nightshade, fellenwort, felonwood, poisonberry, poisonflower, scarlet berry, snakeberry, trailing bittersweet, trailing nightshade, violet bloom, or woody nightshade, is a species of vine in the potato genus Solanum, family Solanaceae. It is native to Europe and Asia, and widely naturalised elsewhere, including North America, where it is an invasive problem weed.From Wikipedia via iNaturalist — article, CC BY-SA.
Bittersweet Nightshade by state
| State | Observations | Peak month | Main season |
|---|---|---|---|
| New York | 696 | July | May–Aug |
| Massachusetts | 448 | June | Jun–Aug |
| Washington | 377 | August | May–Aug |
| Vermont | 286 | July | Jun–Aug |
| Pennsylvania | 282 | June | May–Aug |
| Minnesota | 281 | June | Jun–Aug |
| Wisconsin | 247 | June | Jun–Aug |
| Illinois | 228 | June | Jun–Jul |
| Oregon | 220 | July | May–Aug |
| Ohio | 212 | June | May–Aug |
| Michigan | 207 | June | May–Aug |
| New Jersey | 142 | June | May–Aug |
| Maine | 131 | July | Jun–Aug |
| Utah | 117 | July | Jun–Sep |
| Connecticut | 96 | June | Jun–Aug |
| Indiana | 75 | May | May–Sep |
| New Hampshire | 71 | July | Jun–Aug |
| Idaho | 68 | June | Jun–Sep |
| Maryland | 64 | June | May–Aug |
| North Carolina | 50 | June | May–Aug |
| Virginia | 45 | May | May–Jul |
| Rhode Island | 34 | July | Jun–Aug |
| North Dakota | 25 | July | Jun–Aug |
| Iowa | 24 | July | Jun–Sep |
| Colorado | 23 | June | May–Aug |
| West Virginia | 21 | June | Jun–Aug |
| Kentucky | 15 | May | Apr–Aug |
| Montana | 14 | June | Jun–Aug |
| South Dakota | 14 | June | Jun–Jun |
| District of Columbia | 9 | May | Apr–May |
| Delaware | 5 | May | May–May |
| Nevada | 5 | June | Jun–Jul |
Main season = months with at least 30% of the state's peak-month count.
Related wildflowers (nightshade family)
Carolina horsenettle
Sacred Datura
Silverleaf Nightshade
Purple Groundcherry
Tree Tobacco
Thickleaf Groundcherry
Desert Tobacco
Bluewitch Nightshade
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 Bittersweet Nightshade?
Nationally, June has the most observations, with the main season from May to August.
Where is Bittersweet Nightshade most often seen?
The most observations come from New York, Massachusetts, Washington.