Common Sunflower (Helianthus annuus) is in the Sunflowers, Daisies, Asters, and Allies family (Asteraceae). Across the U.S., iNaturalist users have logged 3,019 research-grade flowering observations of it in our sample, peaking in September.
Nationally it blooms mainly from June to October, but timing varies a lot by state and elevation — see the table below.
When to photograph Common Sunflower: observations by month (U.S.)
About Common Sunflower
Helianthus annuus, the common sunflower, is a large annual forb of the genus Helianthus grown as a crop for its edible oil and edible fruits (sunflower seeds). This sunflower species is also used as bird food, as livestock forage (as a meal or a silage plant), and in some industrial applications. The plant was first domesticated in the Americas. Wild Helianthus annuus is a widely branched annual plant with many flower heads. The domestic sunflower, however,...From Wikipedia via iNaturalist — article, CC BY-SA.
Common Sunflower by state
| State | Observations | Peak month | Main season |
|---|---|---|---|
| Texas | 1,220 | June | Apr–Oct |
| Oklahoma | 429 | September | Jul–Oct |
| California | 367 | August | Jun–Nov |
| Utah | 289 | September | Jul–Oct |
| Colorado | 67 | August | Jul–Sep |
| New Mexico | 52 | August | Jul–Sep |
| Oregon | 52 | August | Jul–Sep |
| Arizona | 48 | September | Jun–Oct |
| Washington | 47 | September | Jul–Sep |
| Ohio | 44 | September | Jul–Oct |
| Nevada | 42 | September | Jun–Oct |
| Illinois | 33 | September | Jul–Oct |
| New York | 32 | July | Jul–Oct |
| Idaho | 31 | August | Jul–Sep |
| Minnesota | 29 | September | Jul–Sep |
| Kansas | 24 | September | Jul–Sep |
| Nebraska | 21 | August | Jul–Sep |
| Indiana | 19 | July | Jul–Aug |
| Missouri | 18 | July | Jun–Aug |
| South Dakota | 18 | July | Jul–Sep |
| Arkansas | 16 | July | Jun–Sep |
| New Jersey | 12 | October | Jul–Oct |
| Massachusetts | 11 | August | Jul–Aug |
| Vermont | 10 | August | Aug–Sep |
| Pennsylvania | 9 | August | Jul–Aug |
| Iowa | 8 | July | Jun–Nov |
| Kentucky | 7 | October | Oct–Oct |
| North Dakota | 6 | July | Jul–Jul |
| Louisiana | 5 | June | May–Aug |
| Mississippi | 5 | June | Jun–Jun |
| Montana | 5 | September | Sep–Sep |
| North Carolina | 5 | August | Aug–Aug |
| Wisconsin | 5 | July | Jul–Aug |
| Wyoming | 5 | July | Jul–Sep |
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 Sunflower?
Nationally, September has the most observations, with the main season from June to October.
Where is Common Sunflower most often seen?
The most observations come from Texas, Oklahoma, California.