Deptford pink (Dianthus armeria) is in the pink family family (Caryophyllaceae). Across the U.S., iNaturalist users have logged 3,919 research-grade flowering observations of it in our sample, peaking in June.
Nationally it blooms mainly from June to July, but timing varies a lot by state and elevation — see the table below.
When to photograph Deptford pink: observations by month (U.S.)
About Deptford pink
Dianthus armeria, the Deptford pink or grass pink, is a species of Dianthus ("pink") native to most of Europe, from Portugal north to southern Scotland and southern Finland, and east to Ukraine and the Caucasus. It is naturalised in North America.From Wikipedia via iNaturalist — article, CC BY-SA.
Deptford pink by state
| State | Observations | Peak month | Main season |
|---|---|---|---|
| New York | 437 | July | Jun–Aug |
| Pennsylvania | 436 | June | Jun–Jul |
| Massachusetts | 295 | July | Jun–Aug |
| Kentucky | 263 | May | May–Jun |
| Ohio | 220 | June | Jun–Jul |
| North Carolina | 196 | June | May–Jul |
| Maryland | 193 | June | Jun–Jun |
| New Jersey | 176 | June | Jun–Jul |
| Vermont | 175 | July | Jun–Jul |
| Virginia | 164 | June | Jun–Jun |
| Illinois | 160 | June | Jun–Jul |
| Michigan | 149 | June | Jun–Aug |
| Oregon | 113 | June | Jun–Aug |
| Washington | 99 | July | Jun–Aug |
| Wisconsin | 93 | July | Jun–Jul |
| Connecticut | 73 | June | Jun–Aug |
| New Hampshire | 70 | July | Jun–Jul |
| Indiana | 57 | June | Jun–Jul |
| Maine | 55 | July | Jul–Aug |
| Missouri | 54 | June | May–Jul |
| Arkansas | 51 | May | May–Jun |
| Minnesota | 49 | July | Jul–Jul |
| West Virginia | 45 | June | Jun–Jul |
| Tennessee | 37 | June | May–Jun |
| Delaware | 36 | June | Jun–Jul |
| Kansas | 31 | June | May–Jun |
| Colorado | 28 | July | Jun–Aug |
| Idaho | 23 | July | Jun–Aug |
| Oklahoma | 23 | May | May–Jun |
| Georgia | 19 | May | Apr–May |
| Rhode Island | 19 | June | Jun–Jul |
| Iowa | 17 | June | Jun–Aug |
| Montana | 17 | July | Jul–Jul |
| Wyoming | 13 | August | Aug–Oct |
| Nebraska | 7 | June | Jun–Jun |
| Mississippi | 5 | May | May–Jun |
Main season = months with at least 30% of the state's peak-month count.
Related wildflowers (pink 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 Deptford pink?
Nationally, June has the most observations, with the main season from June to July.
Where is Deptford pink most often seen?
The most observations come from New York, Pennsylvania, Massachusetts.