Greater celandine (Chelidonium majus) is in the Poppy Family family (Papaveraceae). Across the U.S., iNaturalist users have logged 2,974 research-grade flowering observations of it in our sample, peaking in May.
Nationally it blooms mainly from May to May, but timing varies a lot by state and elevation — see the table below.
When to photograph Greater celandine: observations by month (U.S.)
About Greater celandine
Chelidonium majus, (commonly known as greater celandine or tetterwort, (although tetterwort also refers to Sanguinaria canadensis), nipplewort, or swallowwort,) is a herbaceous perennial plant, one of two species in the genus Chelidonium. It is native to Europe and western Asia and introduced widely in North America.From Wikipedia via iNaturalist — article, CC BY-SA.
Greater celandine by state
| State | Observations | Peak month | Main season |
|---|---|---|---|
| New York | 700 | May | May–May |
| Massachusetts | 480 | May | May–Jun |
| Pennsylvania | 445 | May | Apr–May |
| Vermont | 359 | May | May–Jun |
| Connecticut | 176 | May | May–May |
| Michigan | 127 | May | May–May |
| Ohio | 115 | May | May–May |
| New Jersey | 102 | May | May–Jun |
| New Hampshire | 100 | May | May–Jun |
| Wisconsin | 81 | May | May–Jun |
| Virginia | 62 | May | Apr–May |
| Maine | 42 | May | May–Jul |
| Illinois | 33 | May | May–May |
| Maryland | 33 | April | Apr–May |
| Minnesota | 27 | May | May–Jun |
| Rhode Island | 26 | May | May–May |
| Indiana | 22 | May | May–May |
| Iowa | 13 | May | May–May |
| West Virginia | 10 | May | Apr–May |
| Delaware | 7 | April | Apr–May |
| Washington | 5 | May | May–May |
Main season = months with at least 30% of the state's peak-month count.
Related wildflowers (Poppy Family)
Bloodroot
Dutchman's breeches
California poppy
Squirrel Corn
Pacific Bleeding Heart
Celandine Poppy
Creamcups
Little Gold Poppy
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 Greater celandine?
Nationally, May has the most observations, with the main season from May to May.
Where is Greater celandine most often seen?
The most observations come from New York, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania.