Eastern Black Nightshade (Solanum emulans) is in the nightshade family family (Solanaceae). Across the U.S., iNaturalist users have logged 1,317 research-grade flowering observations of it in our sample, peaking in August.
Nationally it blooms mainly from July to October, but timing varies a lot by state and elevation — see the table below.
When to photograph Eastern Black Nightshade: observations by month (U.S.)
Eastern Black Nightshade by state
| State | Observations | Peak month | Main season |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ohio | 136 | August | Jul–Sep |
| Massachusetts | 114 | August | Jul–Oct |
| New York | 110 | August | Jun–Oct |
| Texas | 105 | April | Apr–May |
| Minnesota | 93 | August | Jul–Sep |
| Pennsylvania | 80 | September | Jul–Oct |
| Michigan | 59 | August | Jul–Sep |
| North Carolina | 54 | September | May–Oct |
| Wisconsin | 44 | July | Jul–Oct |
| Arkansas | 43 | July | Jul–Oct |
| Kentucky | 41 | August | Jun–Sep |
| Illinois | 40 | September | Jul–Oct |
| Indiana | 36 | July | Jul–Sep |
| New Jersey | 36 | August | Jul–Sep |
| Georgia | 35 | May | May–May |
| Vermont | 34 | August | Jul–Oct |
| Tennessee | 31 | May | May–May |
| Virginia | 30 | August | May–Oct |
| Alabama | 25 | May | May–May |
| Maryland | 24 | August | Jul–Sep |
| Connecticut | 20 | August | Jul–Oct |
| Nebraska | 17 | October | Jun–Oct |
| Missouri | 15 | July | May–Jul |
| Mississippi | 14 | August | Jul–Aug |
| Iowa | 10 | August | Aug–Oct |
| Maine | 10 | September | Aug–Sep |
| New Hampshire | 10 | September | Jul–Sep |
| Oklahoma | 10 | August | May–Oct |
| South Carolina | 10 | July | Jul–Jul |
| North Dakota | 7 | September | Jul–Sep |
| Kansas | 5 | September | Aug–Sep |
| Rhode Island | 5 | August | Jun–Aug |
Main season = months with at least 30% of the state's peak-month count.
Related wildflowers (nightshade family)
Carolina horsenettle
Sacred Datura
Bittersweet Nightshade
Silverleaf Nightshade
Purple Groundcherry
Tree Tobacco
Thickleaf Groundcherry
Desert Tobacco
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 Eastern Black Nightshade?
Nationally, August has the most observations, with the main season from July to October.
Where is Eastern Black Nightshade most often seen?
The most observations come from Ohio, Massachusetts, New York.