Lyreleaf Sage (Salvia lyrata) is in the Mint Family family (Lamiaceae). Across the U.S., iNaturalist users have logged 4,563 research-grade flowering observations of it in our sample, peaking in April.
Nationally it blooms mainly from March to May, but timing varies a lot by state and elevation — see the table below.
When to photograph Lyreleaf Sage: observations by month (U.S.)
About Lyreleaf Sage
Salvia lyrata (lyre-leaf sage, lyreleaf sage, wild sage, cancerweed), is a herbaceous perennial in the family Lamiaceae that is native to the United States, from Connecticut west to Missouri, and in the south from Florida west to Texas. It was described and named by Carl Linnaeus in 1753.From Wikipedia via iNaturalist — article, CC BY-SA.
Lyreleaf Sage by state
| State | Observations | Peak month | Main season |
|---|---|---|---|
| Florida | 1,425 | March | Feb–Apr |
| Mississippi | 510 | April | Mar–Apr |
| North Carolina | 404 | May | Apr–May |
| Kentucky | 400 | May | Apr–May |
| Texas | 260 | March | Mar–Apr |
| Tennessee | 243 | April | Apr–May |
| Alabama | 238 | April | Mar–Apr |
| Virginia | 199 | May | Apr–May |
| Georgia | 178 | April | Mar–Apr |
| Arkansas | 163 | April | Apr–Apr |
| Louisiana | 138 | March | Mar–Apr |
| Maryland | 110 | May | May–May |
| South Carolina | 75 | April | Apr–Apr |
| Delaware | 41 | May | May–May |
| West Virginia | 33 | May | May–May |
| New Jersey | 32 | May | May–May |
| Ohio | 26 | May | May–May |
| Pennsylvania | 21 | May | May–May |
| Indiana | 18 | May | Apr–May |
| Missouri | 18 | May | Apr–May |
| Oklahoma | 17 | April | Apr–May |
| District of Columbia | 11 | May | Apr–May |
Main season = months with at least 30% of the state's peak-month count.
Related wildflowers (Mint Family)
Red Deadnettle
Common Selfheal
Ground-Ivy
Henbit Deadnettle
Wild Bergamot
Chia
American germander
Vinegar Weed
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 Lyreleaf Sage?
Nationally, April has the most observations, with the main season from March to May.
Where is Lyreleaf Sage most often seen?
The most observations come from Florida, Mississippi, North Carolina.