Common Sneezeweed (Helenium autumnale) is in the Sunflowers, Daisies, Asters, and Allies family (Asteraceae). Across the U.S., iNaturalist users have logged 1,675 research-grade flowering observations of it in our sample, peaking in September.
Nationally it blooms mainly from August to September, but timing varies a lot by state and elevation — see the table below.
When to photograph Common Sneezeweed: observations by month (U.S.)
About Common Sneezeweed
Helenium autumnale is a North American species of flowering plants in the sunflower family. Common names include common sneezeweed and large-flowered sneezeweed.From Wikipedia via iNaturalist — article, CC BY-SA.
Common Sneezeweed by state
| State | Observations | Peak month | Main season |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ohio | 242 | September | Aug–Sep |
| North Carolina | 203 | September | Aug–Oct |
| Illinois | 143 | September | Aug–Sep |
| Pennsylvania | 131 | September | Aug–Sep |
| Wisconsin | 119 | September | Aug–Sep |
| Minnesota | 102 | September | Aug–Sep |
| Indiana | 76 | September | Aug–Oct |
| Mississippi | 67 | October | Sep–Oct |
| New York | 67 | August | Aug–Sep |
| New Jersey | 64 | September | Aug–Sep |
| Kentucky | 61 | September | Aug–Sep |
| Virginia | 56 | September | Aug–Oct |
| West Virginia | 42 | September | Aug–Sep |
| Alabama | 27 | September | Sep–Oct |
| Iowa | 26 | September | Aug–Sep |
| Missouri | 24 | September | Aug–Oct |
| Arkansas | 23 | September | Sep–Oct |
| Utah | 22 | August | Aug–Aug |
| Michigan | 21 | September | Aug–Sep |
| Oregon | 20 | August | Aug–Sep |
| Massachusetts | 19 | August | Aug–Sep |
| Maryland | 17 | August | Aug–Aug |
| Tennessee | 16 | September | Sep–Oct |
| Maine | 15 | September | Aug–Sep |
| Washington | 12 | August | Aug–Oct |
| Vermont | 11 | September | Sep–Sep |
| Georgia | 8 | September | Jun–Oct |
| Connecticut | 7 | September | Sep–Oct |
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 Sneezeweed?
Nationally, September has the most observations, with the main season from August to September.
Where is Common Sneezeweed most often seen?
The most observations come from Ohio, North Carolina, Illinois.