clasping Venus's looking glass (Triodanis perfoliata) is in the bellflower family family (Campanulaceae). Across the U.S., iNaturalist users have logged 2,320 research-grade flowering observations of it in our sample, peaking in June.
Nationally it blooms mainly from May to June, but timing varies a lot by state and elevation — see the table below.
When to photograph clasping Venus's looking glass: observations by month (U.S.)
About clasping Venus's looking glass
Triodanis perfoliata, the clasping Venus' looking-glass or clasping bellflower, is a flowering plant belonging to the family Campanulaceae. It is an annual herb native to North and South America, the natural range extending from Canada to Argentina. It is also naturalized in China, Korea and Australia.From Wikipedia via iNaturalist — article, CC BY-SA.
clasping Venus's looking glass by state
| State | Observations | Peak month | Main season |
|---|---|---|---|
| Maryland | 221 | June | May–Jun |
| Virginia | 208 | May | May–Jun |
| North Carolina | 176 | June | May–Jun |
| Pennsylvania | 156 | June | Jun–Jun |
| Florida | 146 | March | Mar–Apr |
| New York | 139 | June | Jun–Jun |
| Texas | 112 | April | Apr–May |
| Ohio | 103 | June | Jun–Jun |
| New Jersey | 92 | June | Jun–Jun |
| Massachusetts | 91 | June | Jun–Jun |
| Mississippi | 85 | April | Apr–May |
| Kentucky | 79 | May | May–May |
| Georgia | 76 | May | Apr–May |
| Illinois | 73 | June | May–Jun |
| South Carolina | 54 | April | Apr–May |
| Tennessee | 54 | May | May–Jun |
| Alabama | 53 | May | Apr–May |
| Arkansas | 49 | May | Apr–May |
| Missouri | 44 | May | May–Jun |
| Connecticut | 43 | June | Jun–Jun |
| Wisconsin | 40 | June | Jun–Jun |
| Delaware | 38 | June | May–Jun |
| West Virginia | 26 | June | May–Jun |
| Louisiana | 24 | April | Apr–Apr |
| Indiana | 17 | June | May–Jun |
| Michigan | 17 | June | Jun–Jun |
| Kansas | 15 | June | May–Jun |
| Minnesota | 15 | June | Jun–Jul |
| Rhode Island | 15 | June | Jun–Jun |
| Arizona | 14 | May | Apr–May |
| Iowa | 10 | June | Jun–Jun |
| Oklahoma | 10 | May | May–Jun |
| District of Columbia | 7 | May | May–Jun |
| Nebraska | 6 | June | Jun–Jun |
Main season = months with at least 30% of the state's peak-month count.
Related wildflowers (bellflower family)
Cardinal Flower
Great Blue Lobelia
Tall Bellflower
Indian tobacco
Creeping Bellflower
Pale-Spiked Lobelia
Western Harebell
Downy Lobelia
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 clasping Venus's looking glass?
Nationally, June has the most observations, with the main season from May to June.
Where is clasping Venus's looking glass most often seen?
The most observations come from Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina.