Chicory (Cichorium intybus) is in the Sunflowers, Daisies, Asters, and Allies family (Asteraceae). Across the U.S., iNaturalist users have logged 9,043 research-grade flowering observations of it in our sample, peaking in July.
Nationally it blooms mainly from June to October, but timing varies a lot by state and elevation — see the table below.
When to photograph Chicory: observations by month (U.S.)
About Chicory
Common chicory (Cichorium intybus) is a somewhat woody, perennial herbaceous plant of the dandelion family Asteraceae, usually with bright blue flowers, rarely white or pink. Many varieties are cultivated for salad leaves, chicons (blanched buds), or roots (var. sativum), which are baked, ground, and used as a coffee substitute and food additive. In the 21st century, inulin, an extract from chicory root, has been used in food manufacturing as a sweetener and source of dietary fiber.From Wikipedia via iNaturalist — article, CC BY-SA.
Chicory by state
| State | Observations | Peak month | Main season |
|---|---|---|---|
| New York | 1,187 | July | Jun–Oct |
| Massachusetts | 591 | July | Jun–Sep |
| Pennsylvania | 584 | July | Jun–Oct |
| Ohio | 569 | September | Jun–Sep |
| Vermont | 565 | July | Jul–Oct |
| California | 527 | July | Jun–Sep |
| Kentucky | 522 | July | Jun–Sep |
| Maryland | 432 | June | Jun–Oct |
| Illinois | 401 | July | Jun–Sep |
| Virginia | 389 | July | Jun–Oct |
| Michigan | 334 | July | Jun–Oct |
| Washington | 295 | July | Jul–Oct |
| Oregon | 291 | July | Jun–Oct |
| New Jersey | 264 | July | Jun–Oct |
| District of Columbia | 253 | June | Jun–Sep |
| North Carolina | 235 | July | Jun–Oct |
| Indiana | 196 | July | Jun–Sep |
| Wisconsin | 193 | July | Jul–Sep |
| West Virginia | 170 | July | Jun–Oct |
| Maine | 142 | September | Jun–Oct |
| Delaware | 125 | July | Jun–Oct |
| Missouri | 115 | July | Jun–Sep |
| Connecticut | 110 | July | Jun–Oct |
| Utah | 85 | October | Sep–Oct |
| Colorado | 81 | August | Jun–Oct |
| Tennessee | 75 | July | Jun–Oct |
| Iowa | 45 | July | Jul–Aug |
| Minnesota | 36 | July | Jul–Sep |
| Rhode Island | 36 | July | Jul–Sep |
| New Hampshire | 33 | July | Jun–Oct |
| Idaho | 32 | July | Jun–Sep |
| Kansas | 22 | June | Jun–Jul |
| Arkansas | 21 | June | Jun–Sep |
| Mississippi | 15 | August | Jul–Oct |
| Nebraska | 14 | July | Jul–Oct |
| Nevada | 14 | July | Jun–Sep |
| New Mexico | 12 | August | Jun–Aug |
| Alabama | 9 | May | May–Jul |
| Georgia | 6 | July | Jul–Sep |
Main season = months with at least 30% of the state's peak-month count.
Related wildflowers (Sunflowers, Daisies, Asters, and Allies)
black-eyed Susan
Common Yarrow
White Snakeroot
Lawn daisy
Philadelphia fleabane
Pearly Everlasting
Blue Mistflower
brown-eyed Susan
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 Chicory?
Nationally, July has the most observations, with the main season from June to October.
Where is Chicory most often seen?
The most observations come from New York, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania.