Common Groundsel (Senecio vulgaris) is in the Sunflowers, Daisies, Asters, and Allies family (Asteraceae). Across the U.S., iNaturalist users have logged 1,860 research-grade flowering observations of it in our sample, peaking in March.
Nationally it blooms mainly from December to April, but timing varies a lot by state and elevation — see the table below.
When to photograph Common Groundsel: observations by month (U.S.)
About Common Groundsel
Senecio vulgaris, often known by the common names groundsel:764 and old-man-in-the-Spring, is a flowering plant in the daisy family Asteraceae. It is an annual herb, native to Europe and widely naturalised as a ruderal species in suitable disturbed habitats worldwide.From Wikipedia via iNaturalist — article, CC BY-SA.
Common Groundsel by state
| State | Observations | Peak month | Main season |
|---|---|---|---|
| California | 308 | March | Jan–Mar |
| New York | 273 | April | Mar–May |
| Oregon | 224 | April | Dec–May |
| New Jersey | 183 | April | Mar–May |
| Washington | 122 | March | Oct–May |
| Pennsylvania | 111 | April | Mar–Apr |
| Virginia | 90 | March | Mar–May |
| Maryland | 87 | April | Jan–Apr |
| Texas | 73 | February | Jan–Mar |
| North Carolina | 64 | March | Mar–Apr |
| Massachusetts | 42 | April | Apr–Apr |
| Illinois | 29 | April | Apr–May |
| Ohio | 28 | April | Mar–Apr |
| Colorado | 19 | April | Apr–May |
| District of Columbia | 19 | March | Mar–Apr |
| Wisconsin | 19 | April | Apr–Apr |
| Kentucky | 16 | March | Mar–Apr |
| Delaware | 15 | April | Mar–Apr |
| West Virginia | 14 | April | Apr–Apr |
| Vermont | 12 | April | Apr–May |
| Connecticut | 11 | March | Mar–Jun |
| Utah | 11 | March | Feb–Apr |
| Arizona | 10 | March | Mar–Mar |
| Michigan | 10 | April | Apr–May |
| Alabama | 8 | February | Feb–Apr |
| Oklahoma | 7 | March | Mar–Mar |
| Tennessee | 6 | February | Jan–Apr |
| Georgia | 5 | February | Feb–Mar |
| Indiana | 5 | March | Mar–Mar |
| New Mexico | 5 | March | Mar–Mar |
| South Carolina | 5 | March | Mar–Apr |
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 Groundsel?
Nationally, March has the most observations, with the main season from December to April.
Where is Common Groundsel most often seen?
The most observations come from California, New York, Oregon.