Hemp Dogbane (Apocynum cannabinum) is in the Dogbane Family family (Apocynaceae). Across the U.S., iNaturalist users have logged 2,462 research-grade flowering observations of it in our sample, peaking in June.
Nationally it blooms mainly from June to July, but timing varies a lot by state and elevation — see the table below.
When to photograph Hemp Dogbane: observations by month (U.S.)
About Hemp Dogbane
Apocynum cannabinum (dogbane, amy root, hemp dogbane, prairie dogbane, Indian hemp, rheumatism root, or wild cotton) is a perennial herbaceous plant that grows throughout much of North America - in the southern half of Canada and throughout the United States. It is a poisonous plant: Apocynum means "poisonous to dogs". All parts of the plant are poisonous and can cause cardiac arrest if ingested. However, some lepidoptera feed on this plant, such as two hummingbird moths.....From Wikipedia via iNaturalist — article, CC BY-SA.
Hemp Dogbane by state
| State | Observations | Peak month | Main season |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pennsylvania | 289 | June | Jun–Jul |
| New York | 188 | June | Jun–Jul |
| Maryland | 183 | June | Jun–Aug |
| Minnesota | 160 | June | Jun–Jul |
| Vermont | 158 | July | Jun–Jul |
| Ohio | 146 | June | Jun–Jul |
| Michigan | 127 | June | Jun–Jul |
| Kentucky | 119 | June | May–Jul |
| Illinois | 112 | June | Jun–Jul |
| Wisconsin | 110 | June | Jun–Aug |
| Massachusetts | 98 | July | Jun–Aug |
| New Jersey | 95 | June | Jun–Aug |
| Indiana | 79 | June | Jun–Jul |
| Connecticut | 59 | July | Jun–Jul |
| North Carolina | 59 | May | May–Aug |
| Virginia | 56 | June | May–Jul |
| Mississippi | 51 | May | May–Jun |
| Missouri | 39 | June | May–Jul |
| New Hampshire | 39 | July | Jun–Jul |
| Iowa | 37 | July | Jun–Jul |
| Arkansas | 36 | June | May–Jun |
| West Virginia | 26 | June | Jun–Jul |
| Maine | 24 | July | Jun–Jul |
| Colorado | 17 | June | Jun–Jul |
| North Dakota | 17 | July | Jun–Jul |
| Delaware | 16 | July | Jun–Jul |
| Georgia | 16 | May | May–May |
| Utah | 16 | May | May–Jul |
| Tennessee | 12 | May | May–Jun |
| Nebraska | 11 | July | Jun–Jul |
| Oklahoma | 11 | May | May–May |
| Kansas | 10 | June | May–Jun |
| Rhode Island | 10 | August | Jun–Aug |
| New Mexico | 8 | June | Jun–Jul |
| Alabama | 6 | May | May–Jul |
| South Carolina | 5 | May | Apr–May |
Main season = months with at least 30% of the state's peak-month count.
Related wildflowers (Dogbane Family)
Butterfly Milkweed
Common Milkweed
Lesser Periwinkle
Swamp Milkweed
Showy Milkweed
Green Antelopehorns
Narrowleaf Milkweed
Spreading Dogbane
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 Hemp Dogbane?
Nationally, June has the most observations, with the main season from June to July.
Where is Hemp Dogbane most often seen?
The most observations come from Pennsylvania, New York, Maryland.