Bitterweed (Helenium amarum) is in the Sunflowers, Daisies, Asters, and Allies family (Asteraceae). Across the U.S., iNaturalist users have logged 1,797 research-grade flowering observations of it in our sample, peaking in August.
Nationally it blooms mainly from June to October, but timing varies a lot by state and elevation — see the table below.
When to photograph Bitterweed: observations by month (U.S.)
About Bitterweed
Helenium amarum is a species of annual herb in the daisy family known by the common names yellowdicks, yellow sneezeweed, fiveleaf sneezeweed, and bitter sneezeweed. It is native to much of the south-central United States (Texas, Oklahoma, Louisiana, Arkansas, New Mexico) and northern Mexico (Chihuahua, Coahuila), and it is present elsewhere in North America, Australia, and the West Indies as an introduced species.From Wikipedia via iNaturalist — article, CC BY-SA.
Bitterweed by state
| State | Observations | Peak month | Main season |
|---|---|---|---|
| Texas | 712 | September | Apr–Nov |
| Mississippi | 282 | August | Jun–Nov |
| Arkansas | 152 | August | Jun–Oct |
| Georgia | 130 | August | Jun–Sep |
| North Carolina | 113 | August | Jun–Aug |
| Alabama | 104 | September | Jun–Sep |
| Florida | 70 | September | Jun–Dec |
| Oklahoma | 55 | October | Jul–Nov |
| Louisiana | 43 | August | Aug–Oct |
| South Carolina | 43 | August | Jul–Aug |
| Virginia | 31 | August | Jun–Sep |
| Missouri | 27 | August | Jun–Oct |
| Tennessee | 20 | August | Jun–Sep |
| Kentucky | 10 | July | Jun–Jul |
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 Bitterweed?
Nationally, August has the most observations, with the main season from June to October.
Where is Bitterweed most often seen?
The most observations come from Texas, Mississippi, Arkansas.