Leafy Elephant's-Foot

Leafy Elephant's-Foot (Elephantopus carolinianus) is in the Sunflowers, Daisies, Asters, and Allies family (Asteraceae). Across the U.S., iNaturalist users have logged 880 research-grade flowering observations of it in our sample, peaking in August.

Nationally it blooms mainly from August to September, but timing varies a lot by state and elevation — see the table below.

When to photograph Leafy Elephant's-Foot: observations by month (U.S.)

About Leafy Elephant's-Foot

Elephantopus carolinianus, common names Carolina elephantsfoot or leafy elephant's foot, is a species of flowering plant in the sunflower family. It is native to the United States from Florida north as far as Ohio, Illinois, and Pennsylvania, west to Texas, Oklahoma, and Kansas.From Wikipedia via iNaturalist — article, CC BY-SA.

Leafy Elephant's-Foot by state

Main season = months with at least 30% of the state's peak-month count.

Related wildflowers (Sunflowers, Daisies, Asters, and Allies)

black-eyed SusanRudbeckia hirta

Common YarrowAchillea millefolium

White SnakerootAgeratina altissima

ChicoryCichorium intybus

Lawn daisyBellis perennis

Philadelphia fleabaneErigeron philadelphicus

Pearly EverlastingAnaphalis margaritacea

Blue MistflowerConoclinium coelestinum

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