Bluebead Lily (Clintonia borealis) is in the lily family family (Liliaceae). Across the U.S., iNaturalist users have logged 3,345 research-grade flowering observations of it in our sample, peaking in June.
Nationally it blooms mainly from May to June, but timing varies a lot by state and elevation — see the table below.
When to photograph Bluebead Lily: observations by month (U.S.)
About Bluebead Lily
Clintonia borealis (commonly blue-bead lily or Clintonia, also Clinton's lily, corn Lily, cow tongue, yellow beadlily, yellow bluebeadlily, snakeberry, dogberry, and straw lily), is a perennial forest plant found in eastern North America. Clintonia borealis is named in honor of former New York senator and governor, DeWitt Clinton. It was once classified within the genus Convallaria.From Wikipedia via iNaturalist — article, CC BY-SA.
Bluebead Lily by state
| State | Observations | Peak month | Main season |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vermont | 702 | June | May–Jun |
| New Hampshire | 589 | June | May–Jun |
| Maine | 412 | May | May–Jun |
| Minnesota | 341 | June | Jun–Jun |
| New York | 293 | June | May–Jun |
| North Carolina | 254 | May | May–Jun |
| Michigan | 213 | June | Jun–Jun |
| Wisconsin | 206 | June | May–Jun |
| Massachusetts | 162 | May | May–Jun |
| Pennsylvania | 55 | May | May–May |
| Tennessee | 41 | May | May–Jun |
| Virginia | 28 | May | May–Jun |
| West Virginia | 26 | May | May–Jun |
| Connecticut | 20 | May | May–May |
Main season = months with at least 30% of the state's peak-month count.
Related wildflowers (lily family)
Yellow Trout Lily
Checker Lily
White Globe Lily
Leichtlin's Mariposa Lily
Yellow Mariposa Lily
White Fawnlily
Tolmie's pussy ears
Gunnison's Mariposa Lily
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 Bluebead Lily?
Nationally, June has the most observations, with the main season from May to June.
Where is Bluebead Lily most often seen?
The most observations come from Vermont, New Hampshire, Maine.