Common Cowparsnip (Heracleum maximum) is in the carrot family family (Apiaceae). Across the U.S., iNaturalist users have logged 2,381 research-grade flowering observations of it in our sample, peaking in June.
Nationally it blooms mainly from May to July, but timing varies a lot by state and elevation — see the table below.
When to photograph Common Cowparsnip: observations by month (U.S.)
About Common Cowparsnip
Heracleum maximum, cow parsnip (also known as Indian celery, Indian rhubarb or pushki) is the only member of the genus Heracleum native to North America. Its classification has caused some difficulty, with recent authoritative sources referring to it variously as Heracleum maximum or Heracleum lanatum, or as either a subspecies, H. sphondylium subsp. montanum, or a variety, H. sphondylium var. lanatum, of the common hogweed (H. sphondylium). The classification given here follows ITIS.From Wikipedia via iNaturalist — article, CC BY-SA.
Common Cowparsnip by state
| State | Observations | Peak month | Main season |
|---|---|---|---|
| California | 558 | April | Apr–Jul |
| Oregon | 473 | May | May–Jun |
| Washington | 254 | June | May–Jul |
| Michigan | 151 | June | Jun–Jul |
| Vermont | 145 | June | Jun–Jun |
| Colorado | 94 | July | Jun–Jul |
| Utah | 87 | July | Jun–Jul |
| Alaska | 71 | July | Jun–Jul |
| Wisconsin | 66 | June | Jun–Jun |
| Illinois | 58 | May | May–Jun |
| North Carolina | 54 | June | May–Jun |
| Pennsylvania | 48 | June | May–Jun |
| Minnesota | 43 | June | Jun–Jul |
| Wyoming | 33 | July | Jul–Jul |
| Montana | 30 | June | Jun–Aug |
| Maine | 24 | June | Jun–Jul |
| Ohio | 21 | May | May–Jun |
| New Hampshire | 19 | June | Jun–Jun |
| New York | 18 | June | Jun–Jun |
| Maryland | 14 | May | May–May |
| Massachusetts | 14 | June | May–Jun |
| Connecticut | 13 | June | Jun–Jun |
| Idaho | 13 | July | Jun–Jul |
| Virginia | 13 | June | May–Jun |
| New Mexico | 11 | June | Jun–Aug |
| South Dakota | 11 | July | Jun–Jul |
| Indiana | 7 | May | May–Jun |
| Iowa | 6 | June | May–Jun |
| North Dakota | 6 | June | Jun–Jul |
| West Virginia | 6 | June | Jun–Jun |
| Nevada | 5 | August | Jul–Aug |
| Rhode Island | 5 | June | May–Jun |
Main season = months with at least 30% of the state's peak-month count.
Related wildflowers (carrot family)
Wild Carrot
Poison Hemlock
Harbinger of Spring
golden Alexanders
Purple Sanicle
Aniseroot
Wild Parsnip
Pacific Sanicle
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 Common Cowparsnip?
Nationally, June has the most observations, with the main season from May to July.
Where is Common Cowparsnip most often seen?
The most observations come from California, Oregon, Washington.