Buttonweed (Diodia virginiana) is in the madder family family (Rubiaceae). Across the U.S., iNaturalist users have logged 1,606 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 Buttonweed: observations by month (U.S.)
About Buttonweed
Diodia virginiana is a plant species in the Rubiaceae, common name Virginia buttonweed. It is a spreading, matted perennial with opposite leaves, often mottled because of a virus that attacks the foliage. Flowers are white, cross-shaped with 4 petals. Fruits are green, often floating on water. The species can become a nuisance weed, hard to eradicate because of underground parts that remain behind when you try to pull up the plant.From Wikipedia via iNaturalist — article, CC BY-SA.
Buttonweed by state
| State | Observations | Peak month | Main season |
|---|---|---|---|
| Texas | 316 | September | May–Oct |
| Mississippi | 197 | July | May–Sep |
| Kentucky | 164 | July | Jun–Sep |
| Georgia | 135 | July | Jun–Sep |
| Florida | 128 | September | Apr–Nov |
| North Carolina | 104 | July | Jun–Sep |
| Virginia | 90 | August | Jul–Sep |
| Arkansas | 83 | August | Jun–Sep |
| Alabama | 74 | September | Jun–Sep |
| Maryland | 73 | August | Jul–Sep |
| Tennessee | 68 | August | Jul–Sep |
| Louisiana | 67 | September | Jun–Oct |
| South Carolina | 30 | August | Jun–Sep |
| Oklahoma | 20 | September | Sep–Sep |
| Indiana | 10 | August | Aug–Sep |
| Illinois | 9 | August | Jul–Sep |
| District of Columbia | 8 | July | Jul–Sep |
| Missouri | 8 | September | Jul–Oct |
| New Jersey | 8 | August | Jul–Sep |
| West Virginia | 6 | August | Aug–Aug |
| Ohio | 5 | August | Aug–Aug |
Main season = months with at least 30% of the state's peak-month count.
Related wildflowers (madder family)
Azure Bluet
Partridgeberry
Buttonbush
Catchweed Bedstraw
Field madder
Tiny Bluet
Northern Bedstraw
Summer Bluet
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 Buttonweed?
Nationally, August has the most observations, with the main season from June to October.
Where is Buttonweed most often seen?
The most observations come from Texas, Mississippi, Kentucky.