Desert Willow (Chilopsis linearis) is in the bignonia family family (Bignoniaceae). Across the U.S., iNaturalist users have logged 1,335 research-grade flowering observations of it in our sample, peaking in May.
Nationally it blooms mainly from May to September, but timing varies a lot by state and elevation — see the table below.
When to photograph Desert Willow: observations by month (U.S.)
About Desert Willow
Chilopsis is a monotypic genus of flowering plants containing the single species Chilopsis linearis.From Wikipedia via iNaturalist — article, CC BY-SA.
Desert Willow by state
| State | Observations | Peak month | Main season |
|---|---|---|---|
| California | 571 | May | May–Sep |
| Nevada | 255 | May | Apr–Jul |
| Texas | 248 | July | Apr–Sep |
| Arizona | 135 | May | May–Sep |
| Utah | 77 | June | May–Jul |
| New Mexico | 48 | May | May–Jun |
Main season = months with at least 30% of the state's peak-month count.
Related wildflowers (bignonia 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 Desert Willow?
Nationally, May has the most observations, with the main season from May to September.
Where is Desert Willow most often seen?
The most observations come from California, Nevada, Texas.