Indian tobacco (Lobelia inflata) is in the bellflower family family (Campanulaceae). Across the U.S., iNaturalist users have logged 3,158 research-grade flowering observations of it in our sample, peaking in August.
Nationally it blooms mainly from July to August, but timing varies a lot by state and elevation — see the table below.
When to photograph Indian tobacco: observations by month (U.S.)
About Indian tobacco
Lobelia inflata, also known as Indian tobacco or puke weed, is a species of Lobelia native to eastern North America, from southeastern Canada (Nova Scotia to southeast Ontario) south through the eastern United States to Alabama and west to Kansas.From Wikipedia via iNaturalist — article, CC BY-SA.
Indian tobacco by state
| State | Observations | Peak month | Main season |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vermont | 338 | August | Jul–Aug |
| Pennsylvania | 296 | July | Jul–Sep |
| New York | 284 | August | Jul–Aug |
| Kentucky | 219 | July | Jul–Aug |
| Virginia | 205 | August | Jul–Aug |
| North Carolina | 194 | August | Jul–Sep |
| Ohio | 194 | August | Jul–Aug |
| Maryland | 177 | August | Jul–Aug |
| Massachusetts | 154 | July | Jul–Aug |
| Maine | 129 | July | Jul–Aug |
| Indiana | 109 | July | Jul–Aug |
| New Hampshire | 108 | August | Jul–Aug |
| Minnesota | 104 | August | Jul–Aug |
| New Jersey | 91 | July | Jul–Aug |
| Wisconsin | 88 | August | Jul–Aug |
| Tennessee | 79 | August | Jul–Aug |
| Delaware | 57 | July | Jul–Aug |
| West Virginia | 56 | August | Jul–Aug |
| Illinois | 54 | July | Jul–Aug |
| Connecticut | 41 | August | Jul–Aug |
| Arkansas | 36 | July | Jul–Aug |
| Michigan | 33 | August | Aug–Aug |
| Missouri | 25 | August | Aug–Aug |
| Georgia | 24 | August | Jul–Aug |
| Alabama | 17 | July | Jun–Jul |
| Iowa | 14 | August | Aug–Aug |
| Rhode Island | 12 | July | Jul–Aug |
| District of Columbia | 6 | August | Aug–Aug |
| Louisiana | 5 | July | Jun–Jul |
| South Carolina | 5 | July | Jul–Sep |
Main season = months with at least 30% of the state's peak-month count.
Related wildflowers (bellflower family)
Cardinal Flower
Great Blue Lobelia
Tall Bellflower
clasping Venus's looking glass
Creeping Bellflower
Pale-Spiked Lobelia
Western Harebell
Downy Lobelia
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 Indian tobacco?
Nationally, August has the most observations, with the main season from July to August.
Where is Indian tobacco most often seen?
The most observations come from Vermont, Pennsylvania, New York.