fen grass of Parnassus (Parnassia glauca) is in the staff-vine family family (Celastraceae). Across the U.S., iNaturalist users have logged 1,302 research-grade flowering observations of it in our sample, peaking in August.
Nationally it blooms mainly from August to September, but timing varies a lot by state and elevation — see the table below.
When to photograph fen grass of Parnassus: observations by month (U.S.)
About fen grass of Parnassus
Parnassia glauca, also known as fen grass of Parnassus, is a flowering herb of the genus Parnassia.From Wikipedia via iNaturalist — article, CC BY-SA.
fen grass of Parnassus by state
| State | Observations | Peak month | Main season |
|---|---|---|---|
| Michigan | 402 | August | Aug–Sep |
| Wisconsin | 221 | September | Aug–Sep |
| Vermont | 142 | August | Aug–Sep |
| New York | 127 | August | Aug–Sep |
| Illinois | 96 | September | Sep–Sep |
| Ohio | 72 | September | Aug–Sep |
| Minnesota | 67 | August | Aug–Sep |
| Massachusetts | 48 | September | Aug–Sep |
| Indiana | 37 | September | Aug–Sep |
| Maine | 36 | August | Jul–Aug |
| Connecticut | 20 | September | Sep–Sep |
| Iowa | 11 | August | Aug–Sep |
| New Jersey | 7 | September | Sep–Oct |
| South Dakota | 7 | August | Aug–Sep |
| New Hampshire | 6 | August | Aug–Aug |
Main season = months with at least 30% of the state's peak-month count.
Related wildflowers (staff-vine 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 fen grass of Parnassus?
Nationally, August has the most observations, with the main season from August to September.
Where is fen grass of Parnassus most often seen?
The most observations come from Michigan, Wisconsin, Vermont.