Citronella Horse Balm (Collinsonia canadensis) is in the Mint Family family (Lamiaceae). Across the U.S., iNaturalist users have logged 1,037 research-grade flowering observations of it in our sample, peaking in September.
Nationally it blooms mainly from August to September, but timing varies a lot by state and elevation — see the table below.
When to photograph Citronella Horse Balm: observations by month (U.S.)
About Citronella Horse Balm
Collinsonia canadensis, commonly called richweed, is a perennial herb in the mint family.From Wikipedia via iNaturalist — article, CC BY-SA.
Citronella Horse Balm by state
| State | Observations | Peak month | Main season |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virginia | 207 | September | Aug–Sep |
| North Carolina | 142 | August | Aug–Sep |
| Ohio | 110 | September | Aug–Sep |
| Pennsylvania | 106 | September | Aug–Sep |
| New York | 89 | August | Aug–Sep |
| Indiana | 69 | August | Aug–Sep |
| Maryland | 51 | September | Aug–Sep |
| West Virginia | 40 | August | Aug–Sep |
| Kentucky | 35 | September | Aug–Sep |
| Tennessee | 32 | September | Sep–Oct |
| New Jersey | 28 | September | Sep–Sep |
| Michigan | 24 | August | Aug–Sep |
| Massachusetts | 23 | August | Aug–Aug |
| Connecticut | 15 | August | Aug–Sep |
| Georgia | 12 | September | Sep–Sep |
| Delaware | 10 | September | Sep–Sep |
| Alabama | 9 | October | Oct–Oct |
| Illinois | 9 | September | Aug–Sep |
| Mississippi | 9 | October | Sep–Oct |
| District of Columbia | 5 | September | Sep–Sep |
| South Carolina | 5 | September | Aug–Sep |
Main season = months with at least 30% of the state's peak-month count.
Related wildflowers (Mint Family)
Red Deadnettle
Common Selfheal
Ground-Ivy
Henbit Deadnettle
Wild Bergamot
Lyreleaf Sage
Chia
American germander
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 Citronella Horse Balm?
Nationally, September has the most observations, with the main season from August to September.
Where is Citronella Horse Balm most often seen?
The most observations come from Virginia, North Carolina, Ohio.