Field madder (Sherardia arvensis) is in the madder family family (Rubiaceae). Across the U.S., iNaturalist users have logged 3,714 research-grade flowering observations of it in our sample, peaking in April.
Nationally it blooms mainly from March to May, but timing varies a lot by state and elevation — see the table below.
When to photograph Field madder: observations by month (U.S.)
About Field madder
Sherardia is a monotypic genus of flowering plants in the Rubiaceae family. The genus contains only one species, viz. Sherardia arvensis or (blue) field madder, which is widespread across most of Europe and northern Africa as well as southwest and central Asia (from Turkey to Saudi Arabia to Kazakhstan) and Macaronesia (Canary Islands, Azores, Madeira, Savage Islands). It is also reportedly naturalized in Australia, New Zealand, Taiwan, Kerguelen, Ethiopia, Sudan, southern Africa, Mexico, Costa Rica, South...From Wikipedia via iNaturalist — article, CC BY-SA.
Field madder by state
| State | Observations | Peak month | Main season |
|---|---|---|---|
| Texas | 870 | April | Feb–Apr |
| Tennessee | 368 | April | Mar–May |
| California | 358 | April | Mar–Apr |
| Virginia | 278 | May | Apr–Jun |
| Alabama | 277 | March | Mar–May |
| North Carolina | 266 | April | Mar–May |
| Georgia | 228 | March | Mar–May |
| Kentucky | 194 | April | Apr–May |
| Mississippi | 168 | April | Mar–May |
| Maryland | 129 | April | Apr–May |
| Oregon | 109 | May | Apr–May |
| Arkansas | 108 | April | Mar–May |
| Oklahoma | 79 | April | Mar–May |
| Louisiana | 54 | March | Feb–Apr |
| South Carolina | 46 | March | Mar–May |
| New York | 40 | December | Nov–Dec |
| Missouri | 34 | May | Apr–May |
| Delaware | 31 | May | Apr–Jun |
| Pennsylvania | 15 | May | Apr–Jun |
| West Virginia | 12 | May | May–Jun |
| New Jersey | 11 | May | May–May |
| Ohio | 11 | May | May–Jun |
| District of Columbia | 10 | April | Apr–May |
| Washington | 6 | May | May–May |
Main season = months with at least 30% of the state's peak-month count.
Related wildflowers (madder family)
Azure Bluet
Partridgeberry
Buttonbush
Catchweed Bedstraw
Tiny Bluet
Buttonweed
Northern Bedstraw
Summer Bluet
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 Field madder?
Nationally, April has the most observations, with the main season from March to May.
Where is Field madder most often seen?
The most observations come from Texas, Tennessee, California.