Common Dandelion (Taraxacum officinale) is in the Sunflowers, Daisies, Asters, and Allies family (Asteraceae). Across the U.S., iNaturalist users have logged 4,636 research-grade flowering observations of it in our sample, peaking in April.
Nationally it blooms mainly from April to May, but timing varies a lot by state and elevation — see the table below.
When to photograph Common Dandelion: observations by month (U.S.)
About Common Dandelion
Taraxacum officinale, the common dandelion (often simply called "dandelion"), is a flowering herbaceous perennial plant of the family Asteraceae (Compositae).From Wikipedia via iNaturalist — article, CC BY-SA.
Common Dandelion by state
| State | Observations | Peak month | Main season |
|---|---|---|---|
| New York | 495 | April | Apr–May |
| Massachusetts | 260 | April | Apr–May |
| Washington | 256 | April | Apr–May |
| Oregon | 235 | April | Apr–May |
| Ohio | 233 | April | Apr–May |
| California | 219 | March | Oct–Mar |
| Texas | 218 | February | Jan–Apr |
| Vermont | 218 | May | Apr–May |
| Pennsylvania | 208 | April | Apr–Apr |
| Illinois | 195 | April | Apr–May |
| North Carolina | 160 | April | Mar–Apr |
| Minnesota | 159 | May | Apr–May |
| Colorado | 135 | April | Apr–May |
| Virginia | 127 | April | Mar–Apr |
| New Jersey | 108 | April | Mar–May |
| Utah | 100 | May | Apr–May |
| Indiana | 97 | April | Apr–Apr |
| Wisconsin | 95 | May | May–May |
| Mississippi | 89 | February | Dec–Apr |
| Maryland | 81 | April | Mar–Apr |
| Michigan | 79 | April | Apr–May |
| Alabama | 73 | March | Nov–Apr |
| Kentucky | 69 | April | Mar–Apr |
| Idaho | 68 | November | Oct–Jan |
| Tennessee | 66 | April | Feb–Jun |
| New Hampshire | 45 | May | May–May |
| Rhode Island | 45 | June | Apr–Jun |
| Connecticut | 41 | April | Apr–May |
| Missouri | 36 | April | Feb–Apr |
| Wyoming | 34 | May | May–May |
| Alaska | 33 | May | Apr–Jul |
| New Mexico | 32 | April | Mar–May |
| West Virginia | 32 | April | Mar–Apr |
| Maine | 30 | May | May–May |
| Louisiana | 25 | February | Jan–Mar |
| District of Columbia | 23 | April | Apr–Apr |
| Iowa | 23 | April | Apr–May |
| North Dakota | 22 | May | Apr–May |
| Arkansas | 21 | April | Feb–May |
| Nevada | 21 | May | Mar–Jun |
| Kansas | 20 | April | Mar–May |
| Oklahoma | 16 | April | Apr–Apr |
| South Carolina | 16 | February | Feb–Apr |
| Nebraska | 15 | May | Apr–May |
| Arizona | 14 | May | Mar–May |
| Montana | 13 | May | Apr–Jun |
| South Dakota | 13 | May | Apr–Jun |
| Delaware | 10 | April | Apr–Apr |
| Florida | 9 | January | Dec–Feb |
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
Chicory
Lawn daisy
Philadelphia fleabane
Pearly Everlasting
Blue Mistflower
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 Dandelion?
Nationally, April has the most observations, with the main season from April to May.
Where is Common Dandelion most often seen?
The most observations come from New York, Massachusetts, Washington.