Downy Lobelia (Lobelia puberula) is in the bellflower family family (Campanulaceae). Across the U.S., iNaturalist users have logged 1,006 research-grade flowering observations of it in our sample, peaking in September.
Nationally it blooms mainly from August to October, but timing varies a lot by state and elevation — see the table below.
When to photograph Downy Lobelia: observations by month (U.S.)
About Downy Lobelia
Lobelia puberula, or downy lobelia, is a perennial herbaceous wildflower in the Bellflower family (Campanulaceae) native to eastern and south central United States. It is the most common blue-flowered Lobelia in the Southeast. It grows in mesic (moderate moisture) to hydric (moist) habitats in sun or partial shade.From Wikipedia via iNaturalist — article, CC BY-SA.
Downy Lobelia by state
| State | Observations | Peak month | Main season |
|---|---|---|---|
| North Carolina | 219 | September | Aug–Oct |
| Mississippi | 145 | September | Sep–Oct |
| Kentucky | 114 | September | Aug–Sep |
| Virginia | 87 | September | Sep–Sep |
| Texas | 85 | October | Sep–Nov |
| Tennessee | 80 | September | Aug–Sep |
| Maryland | 40 | September | Sep–Sep |
| Arkansas | 31 | September | Sep–Oct |
| Georgia | 31 | September | Sep–Oct |
| Alabama | 30 | September | Sep–Oct |
| Florida | 30 | October | Oct–Nov |
| New Jersey | 27 | September | Aug–Oct |
| Delaware | 24 | September | Sep–Sep |
| Ohio | 22 | August | Aug–Sep |
| West Virginia | 9 | September | Aug–Sep |
| Indiana | 7 | September | Aug–Sep |
| Louisiana | 7 | October | Sep–Dec |
| South Carolina | 7 | September | Sep–Nov |
| Oklahoma | 6 | October | Oct–Oct |
| Illinois | 5 | August | Aug–Oct |
Main season = months with at least 30% of the state's peak-month count.
Related wildflowers (bellflower family)
Cardinal Flower
Great Blue Lobelia
Tall Bellflower
Indian tobacco
clasping Venus's looking glass
Creeping Bellflower
Pale-Spiked Lobelia
Western Harebell
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 Downy Lobelia?
Nationally, September has the most observations, with the main season from August to October.
Where is Downy Lobelia most often seen?
The most observations come from North Carolina, Mississippi, Kentucky.