Bride's Bonnet (Clintonia uniflora) is in the lily family family (Liliaceae). Across the U.S., iNaturalist users have logged 1,537 research-grade flowering observations of it in our sample, peaking in June.
Nationally it blooms mainly from June to July, but timing varies a lot by state and elevation — see the table below.
When to photograph Bride's Bonnet: observations by month (U.S.)
About Bride's Bonnet
Clintonia uniflora is a species of flowering plant in the lily family known by several common names, including bride's bonnet and queen's cup. It is native to the mountains of northwestern North America (Alaska, British Columbia, Alberta, Idaho, Montana, Washington, Oregon, California).From Wikipedia via iNaturalist — article, CC BY-SA.
Bride's Bonnet by state
| State | Observations | Peak month | Main season |
|---|---|---|---|
| Washington | 656 | July | Jun–Jul |
| Oregon | 362 | July | Jun–Jul |
| California | 182 | June | Jun–Jul |
| Montana | 176 | June | Jun–Jul |
| Idaho | 125 | June | Jun–Jun |
| Alaska | 36 | June | Jun–Jul |
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 Bride's Bonnet?
Nationally, June has the most observations, with the main season from June to July.
Where is Bride's Bonnet most often seen?
The most observations come from Washington, Oregon, California.