Common St. John's Wort (Hypericum perforatum) is in the St. John's wort family family (Hypericaceae). Across the U.S., iNaturalist users have logged 2,944 research-grade flowering observations of it in our sample, peaking in July.
Nationally it blooms mainly from June to August, but timing varies a lot by state and elevation — see the table below.
When to photograph Common St. John's Wort: observations by month (U.S.)
About Common St. John's Wort
Hypericum perforatum, known as perforate St John's-wort, common Saint John's wort and St John's wort, is a flowering plant in the family Hypericaceae. The common name "St John's wort" may be used to refer to any species of the genus Hypericum. Therefore, Hypericum perforatum is sometimes called "common St John's wort" or "perforate St John's wort" to differentiate it. It is a medicinal herb with antidepressant activity and anti-inflammatory properties as an arachidonate 5-lipoxygenase inhibitor and...From Wikipedia via iNaturalist — article, CC BY-SA.
Common St. John's Wort by state
| State | Observations | Peak month | Main season |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vermont | 385 | July | Jul–Aug |
| Oregon | 359 | July | Jun–Aug |
| Washington | 337 | July | Jun–Aug |
| New York | 323 | July | Jun–Aug |
| Massachusetts | 227 | July | Jun–Jul |
| California | 143 | June | Jun–Jul |
| Wisconsin | 143 | July | Jun–Jul |
| Michigan | 123 | July | Jun–Aug |
| New Jersey | 117 | July | Jun–Aug |
| Minnesota | 105 | June | Jun–Jul |
| New Hampshire | 102 | July | Jul–Aug |
| Pennsylvania | 88 | July | Jun–Aug |
| Maine | 71 | July | Jul–Aug |
| Illinois | 66 | June | Jun–Jul |
| Ohio | 50 | July | Jun–Jul |
| Maryland | 45 | June | Jun–Jul |
| Connecticut | 39 | June | Jun–Aug |
| Virginia | 35 | July | Jun–Aug |
| Idaho | 32 | July | Jun–Oct |
| Rhode Island | 22 | July | Jun–Jul |
| West Virginia | 22 | July | Jun–Aug |
| Indiana | 17 | July | Jun–Aug |
| North Carolina | 17 | July | Jul–Jul |
| Missouri | 15 | June | Jun–Jul |
| Montana | 13 | July | Jul–Aug |
| Colorado | 11 | June | Jun–Jul |
| Iowa | 8 | July | Jun–Jul |
| Kansas | 5 | July | Jun–Jul |
| Oklahoma | 5 | June | Jun–Jun |
Main season = months with at least 30% of the state's peak-month count.
Related wildflowers (St. John's wort family)
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 St. John's Wort?
Nationally, July has the most observations, with the main season from June to August.
Where is Common St. John's Wort most often seen?
The most observations come from Vermont, Oregon, Washington.