Grey-Headed Coneflower (Ratibida pinnata) is in the Sunflowers, Daisies, Asters, and Allies family (Asteraceae). Across the U.S., iNaturalist users have logged 1,562 research-grade flowering observations of it in our sample, peaking in July.
Nationally it blooms mainly from July to August, but timing varies a lot by state and elevation — see the table below.
When to photograph Grey-Headed Coneflower: observations by month (U.S.)
About Grey-Headed Coneflower
Ratibida pinnata is a species of flowering plant in the aster family known by the common names pinnate prairie coneflower, gray-head coneflower, yellow coneflower, and prairie coneflower. It is native to the central and eastern United States and Ontario in Canada.From Wikipedia via iNaturalist — article, CC BY-SA.
Grey-Headed Coneflower by state
| State | Observations | Peak month | Main season |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ohio | 302 | July | Jul–Aug |
| Minnesota | 240 | July | Jul–Aug |
| Illinois | 225 | July | Jul–Aug |
| Wisconsin | 168 | July | Jul–Aug |
| Iowa | 132 | July | Jul–Jul |
| Indiana | 91 | July | Jul–Aug |
| Mississippi | 85 | June | Jun–Jul |
| Missouri | 61 | July | Jun–Jul |
| Michigan | 58 | August | Jul–Aug |
| Alabama | 33 | June | May–Jun |
| Tennessee | 31 | June | Jun–Jul |
| Kansas | 23 | July | Jun–Jul |
| Arkansas | 21 | June | Jun–Jul |
| Kentucky | 21 | July | Jun–Jul |
| Pennsylvania | 19 | July | Jul–Jul |
| Maryland | 6 | July | Jul–Jul |
| North Dakota | 6 | August | Aug–Aug |
| Vermont | 6 | July | Jul–Aug |
| Georgia | 5 | June | May–Jun |
| New York | 5 | July | Jul–Jul |
| West Virginia | 5 | July | Jul–Aug |
Main season = months with at least 30% of the state's peak-month count.
Related wildflowers (Sunflowers, Daisies, Asters, and Allies)
black-eyed Susan
Common Yarrow
White Snakeroot
Chicory
Lawn daisy
Philadelphia fleabane
Pearly Everlasting
Blue Mistflower
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 Grey-Headed Coneflower?
Nationally, July has the most observations, with the main season from July to August.
Where is Grey-Headed Coneflower most often seen?
The most observations come from Ohio, Minnesota, Illinois.