Carolina horsenettle (Solanum carolinense) is in the nightshade family family (Solanaceae). Across the U.S., iNaturalist users have logged 5,520 research-grade flowering observations of it in our sample, peaking in June.
Nationally it blooms mainly from May to August, but timing varies a lot by state and elevation — see the table below.
When to photograph Carolina horsenettle: observations by month (U.S.)
About Carolina horsenettle
Solanum carolinense, the Carolina horsenettle, is not a true nettle, but a member of the Solanaceae, or nightshade family. It is a perennial herbaceous plant, native to the southeastern United States that has spread widely throughout much of temperate North America. It has also been found in parts of Europe, Asia, and Australia. The stem and undersides of larger leaf veins are covered with spines.From Wikipedia via iNaturalist — article, CC BY-SA.
Carolina horsenettle by state
| State | Observations | Peak month | Main season |
|---|---|---|---|
| North Carolina | 592 | June | May–Sep |
| New York | 475 | July | Jun–Aug |
| Kentucky | 433 | June | May–Jul |
| Maryland | 377 | June | Jun–Aug |
| Virginia | 371 | June | Jun–Sep |
| Pennsylvania | 310 | July | Jun–Sep |
| Ohio | 260 | July | Jun–Aug |
| Mississippi | 215 | May | May–Jul |
| Georgia | 209 | May | May–Sep |
| Illinois | 197 | July | Jun–Aug |
| Texas | 195 | May | Apr–Jul |
| Tennessee | 176 | June | May–Aug |
| New Jersey | 156 | June | Jun–Aug |
| Arkansas | 155 | June | May–Jul |
| South Carolina | 150 | May | May–Aug |
| Indiana | 143 | June | Jun–Aug |
| Missouri | 122 | June | May–Jul |
| Alabama | 120 | May | May–Jul |
| Louisiana | 108 | May | Apr–Jul |
| Massachusetts | 101 | July | Jun–Aug |
| Michigan | 97 | July | Jun–Aug |
| West Virginia | 77 | July | Jun–Sep |
| Kansas | 69 | June | May–Aug |
| Iowa | 65 | July | Jun–Aug |
| Oklahoma | 62 | May | May–Jul |
| Connecticut | 60 | August | Jun–Sep |
| Delaware | 54 | June | Jun–Aug |
| Florida | 38 | June | Apr–Sep |
| District of Columbia | 34 | June | May–Jun |
| Vermont | 28 | August | Jul–Aug |
| Wisconsin | 28 | July | Jul–Aug |
| Nebraska | 23 | July | Jun–Jul |
| Rhode Island | 10 | June | Jun–Sep |
| New Hampshire | 6 | July | Jun–Sep |
Main season = months with at least 30% of the state's peak-month count.
Related wildflowers (nightshade family)
Sacred Datura
Bittersweet Nightshade
Silverleaf Nightshade
Purple Groundcherry
Tree Tobacco
Thickleaf Groundcherry
Desert Tobacco
Bluewitch Nightshade
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 Carolina horsenettle?
Nationally, June has the most observations, with the main season from May to August.
Where is Carolina horsenettle most often seen?
The most observations come from North Carolina, New York, Kentucky.