Curlycup Gumweed (Grindelia squarrosa) is in the Sunflowers, Daisies, Asters, and Allies family (Asteraceae). Across the U.S., iNaturalist users have logged 1,195 research-grade flowering observations of it in our sample, peaking in August.
Nationally it blooms mainly from July to September, but timing varies a lot by state and elevation — see the table below.
When to photograph Curlycup Gumweed: observations by month (U.S.)
About Curlycup Gumweed
Grindelia squarrosa, also known as a curly-top gumweed or curlycup gumweed, is a small North American biennial or short-lived perennial plant.From Wikipedia via iNaturalist — article, CC BY-SA.
Curlycup Gumweed by state
| State | Observations | Peak month | Main season |
|---|---|---|---|
| Utah | 636 | August | Jul–Oct |
| Wyoming | 98 | August | Aug–Aug |
| Idaho | 85 | August | Jul–Oct |
| Montana | 59 | August | Aug–Sep |
| Colorado | 58 | September | Jul–Sep |
| Minnesota | 44 | August | Jul–Sep |
| South Dakota | 44 | August | Aug–Sep |
| North Dakota | 41 | August | Aug–Sep |
| Washington | 26 | August | Jul–Sep |
| Nebraska | 25 | August | Aug–Sep |
| Kansas | 22 | September | Aug–Sep |
| Nevada | 19 | August | Jul–Aug |
| Wisconsin | 18 | August | Aug–Sep |
| Oregon | 7 | September | Aug–Sep |
| Arizona | 6 | August | Jun–Aug |
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 Curlycup Gumweed?
Nationally, August has the most observations, with the main season from July to September.
Where is Curlycup Gumweed most often seen?
The most observations come from Utah, Wyoming, Idaho.