Blue Dicks (Dipterostemon capitatus) is in the agave and allies family (Asparagaceae). Across the U.S., iNaturalist users have logged 8,285 research-grade flowering observations of it in our sample, peaking in April.
Nationally it blooms mainly from March to April, but timing varies a lot by state and elevation — see the table below.
When to photograph Blue Dicks: observations by month (U.S.)
About Blue Dicks
Dichelostemma capitatum (syn. D. pulchellum), known by the common names blue dicks, purplehead and brodiaea (alternately spelled brodiea and brodeia), is a species of flowering plant in the family Asparagaceae, native to the Western United States (particularly Arizona, California, Oregon, Utah, and New Mexico) and northwest Mexico.From Wikipedia via iNaturalist — article, CC BY-SA.
Blue Dicks by state
| State | Observations | Peak month | Main season |
|---|---|---|---|
| California | 7,703 | April | Mar–Apr |
| Arizona | 342 | March | Feb–Apr |
| Oregon | 81 | April | Apr–May |
| Utah | 72 | April | Apr–May |
| Nevada | 67 | April | Mar–Apr |
| New Mexico | 20 | April | Mar–Apr |
Main season = months with at least 30% of the state's peak-month count.
Related wildflowers (agave and allies)
Ithuriel's Spear
common star-of-Bethlehem
Chaparral Yucca
Canada mayflower
Solomon's plume
Desert Lily
Small Camas
Ookow
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 Blue Dicks?
Nationally, April has the most observations, with the main season from March to April.
Where is Blue Dicks most often seen?
The most observations come from California, Arizona, Oregon.