Herb Robert (Geranium robertianum) is in the Geranium family family (Geraniaceae). Across the U.S., iNaturalist users have logged 6,672 research-grade flowering observations of it in our sample, peaking in May.
Nationally it blooms mainly from April to July, but timing varies a lot by state and elevation — see the table below.
When to photograph Herb Robert: observations by month (U.S.)
About Herb Robert
Geranium robertianum, commonly known as herb-Robert, red robin, death come quickly, storksbill, fox geranium, stinking Bob, squinter-pip (Shropshire), crow's foot, or (in North America) Roberts geranium, is a common species of cranesbill native to Europe and parts of Asia, North America, and North Africa.From Wikipedia via iNaturalist — article, CC BY-SA.
Herb Robert by state
| State | Observations | Peak month | Main season |
|---|---|---|---|
| Washington | 1,485 | May | Apr–Jun |
| New York | 1,267 | June | May–Jul |
| California | 1,260 | April | Feb–Sep |
| Oregon | 962 | May | Apr–Jun |
| Vermont | 665 | June | May–Oct |
| Massachusetts | 236 | May | May–Jul |
| Michigan | 187 | June | May–Jul |
| Pennsylvania | 143 | May | May–Jul |
| Ohio | 106 | May | May–May |
| Maine | 95 | August | Jun–Oct |
| New Jersey | 70 | May | May–Jul |
| Connecticut | 64 | May | May–Jun |
| New Hampshire | 37 | June | May–Jul |
| Wisconsin | 23 | August | Jun–Aug |
| Montana | 14 | June | May–Jul |
| Illinois | 13 | May | May–May |
| West Virginia | 11 | June | May–Jun |
| North Carolina | 7 | May | May–May |
| Virginia | 7 | May | Apr–Jun |
| Maryland | 6 | May | May–May |
Main season = months with at least 30% of the state's peak-month count.
Related wildflowers (Geranium family)
Redstem Stork's-bill
Wild Geranium
Mediterranean Stork's-bill
Musk Stork's-Bill
Cut-leaved crane's-bill
Dove's-foot crane's-bill
Carolina crane's-bill
Little-Robin
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 Herb Robert?
Nationally, May has the most observations, with the main season from April to July.
Where is Herb Robert most often seen?
The most observations come from Washington, New York, California.