Common Motherwort (Leonurus cardiaca) is in the Mint Family family (Lamiaceae). Across the U.S., iNaturalist users have logged 1,227 research-grade flowering observations of it in our sample, peaking in June.
Nationally it blooms mainly from June to July, but timing varies a lot by state and elevation — see the table below.
When to photograph Common Motherwort: observations by month (U.S.)
About Common Motherwort
Leonurus cardiaca, known as motherwort, is an herbaceous perennial plant in the mint family, Lamiaceae. Other common names include throw-wort, lion's ear, and lion's tail. Lion's tail also being a common name for Leonotis leonurus, and lion's ear, a common name for Leonotis nepetifolia. Originally from Central Asia and southeastern Europe, it is now found worldwide, spread largely due to its use as a herbal remedy.From Wikipedia via iNaturalist — article, CC BY-SA.
Common Motherwort by state
| State | Observations | Peak month | Main season |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minnesota | 263 | June | Jun–Jul |
| New York | 151 | June | Jun–Jul |
| Wisconsin | 139 | June | Jun–Jul |
| Vermont | 94 | July | Jun–Aug |
| Illinois | 81 | June | Jun–Jun |
| New Jersey | 74 | June | Jun–Jul |
| Michigan | 70 | June | Jun–Jul |
| Virginia | 63 | June | Jun–Jul |
| Pennsylvania | 51 | June | Jun–Jun |
| Massachusetts | 44 | June | Jun–Jul |
| Iowa | 38 | June | Jun–Jul |
| Ohio | 30 | June | Jun–Jul |
| Indiana | 20 | June | Jun–Jun |
| Nebraska | 11 | June | Jun–Jun |
| North Dakota | 11 | July | Jun–Aug |
| Utah | 11 | July | Jul–Sep |
| New Hampshire | 10 | June | Jun–Jul |
| Connecticut | 9 | June | Jun–Jun |
| Maryland | 9 | June | Jun–Jul |
| South Dakota | 9 | July | Jun–Jul |
| West Virginia | 9 | June | Jun–Jun |
| Missouri | 6 | June | May–Jul |
| New Mexico | 6 | June | Jun–Jun |
| Maine | 5 | July | Jul–Jul |
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 Common Motherwort?
Nationally, June has the most observations, with the main season from June to July.
Where is Common Motherwort most often seen?
The most observations come from Minnesota, New York, Wisconsin.