Common Toadflax (Linaria vulgaris) is in the Plantain Family family (Plantaginaceae). Across the U.S., iNaturalist users have logged 3,704 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 Toadflax: observations by month (U.S.)
About Common Toadflax
Linaria vulgaris (common toadflax, yellow toadflax, or butter-and-eggs) is a species of toadflax (Linaria), native to most of Europe, northern Asia, the United Kingdom, Spain, east to eastern Siberia, and western China. It has also been introduced and is now common in North America.From Wikipedia via iNaturalist — article, CC BY-SA.
Common Toadflax by state
| State | Observations | Peak month | Main season |
|---|---|---|---|
| New York | 565 | August | Jun–Oct |
| Massachusetts | 527 | September | Jul–Oct |
| Pennsylvania | 389 | July | Jun–Oct |
| Wisconsin | 273 | August | Jul–Oct |
| Minnesota | 258 | September | Jun–Oct |
| Maine | 255 | September | Jul–Oct |
| Vermont | 193 | August | Jul–Oct |
| Michigan | 147 | September | Jul–Sep |
| New Jersey | 131 | September | Jun–Oct |
| Colorado | 128 | August | Jul–Oct |
| Connecticut | 113 | July | Jun–Sep |
| Illinois | 94 | July | Jul–Oct |
| Virginia | 82 | July | Jun–Oct |
| New Hampshire | 76 | September | Jul–Sep |
| Ohio | 63 | August | Jul–Oct |
| Maryland | 56 | June | Jun–Oct |
| Alaska | 51 | July | Jul–Aug |
| Rhode Island | 37 | August | Jul–Oct |
| Montana | 33 | July | Jul–Sep |
| North Carolina | 33 | July | Jun–Oct |
| South Dakota | 30 | August | Jul–Sep |
| Oregon | 24 | October | Jul–Oct |
| Idaho | 21 | August | Jul–Oct |
| Washington | 21 | August | Aug–Oct |
| West Virginia | 20 | August | Jun–Aug |
| Wyoming | 17 | August | Jul–Aug |
| Delaware | 15 | October | Jun–Oct |
| Iowa | 14 | October | Oct–Oct |
| North Dakota | 13 | September | Jul–Sep |
| Indiana | 9 | July | Jul–Aug |
Main season = months with at least 30% of the state's peak-month count.
Related wildflowers (Plantain Family)
Bird's-Eye Speedwell
Ribwort Plantain
White Turtlehead
Purple Foxglove
Canada toadflax
Ghost Flower
Foxglove Beardtongue
Thyme-Leaved Speedwell
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 Toadflax?
Nationally, September has the most observations, with the main season from June to October.
Where is Common Toadflax most often seen?
The most observations come from New York, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania.