Marsh Marigold (Caltha palustris) is in the buttercup family family (Ranunculaceae). Across the U.S., iNaturalist users have logged 6,576 research-grade flowering observations of it in our sample, peaking in May.
Nationally it blooms mainly from April to May, but timing varies a lot by state and elevation — see the table below.
When to photograph Marsh Marigold: observations by month (U.S.)
About Marsh Marigold
Caltha palustris, known as marsh-marigold and kingcup, is a small to medium size perennial herbaceous plant of the buttercup family, native to marshes, fens, ditches and wet woodland in temperate regions of the Northern Hemisphere. It flowers between April and August, dependent on altitude and latitude, but occasional flowers may occur at other times.From Wikipedia via iNaturalist — article, CC BY-SA.
Marsh Marigold by state
| State | Observations | Peak month | Main season |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vermont | 888 | May | May–May |
| Michigan | 833 | May | Apr–May |
| Minnesota | 810 | May | May–May |
| New York | 781 | April | Apr–May |
| Wisconsin | 695 | May | Apr–May |
| Massachusetts | 530 | April | Apr–May |
| Ohio | 429 | April | Apr–Apr |
| Illinois | 300 | April | Apr–May |
| Pennsylvania | 234 | April | Apr–May |
| Connecticut | 183 | April | Apr–May |
| Alaska | 179 | June | Jun–Jun |
| Indiana | 138 | April | Mar–May |
| Maine | 108 | May | May–May |
| New Hampshire | 105 | May | Apr–May |
| New Jersey | 79 | April | Apr–Apr |
| Virginia | 70 | April | Mar–Apr |
| West Virginia | 53 | April | Apr–May |
| Rhode Island | 37 | April | Apr–May |
| Iowa | 34 | April | Apr–May |
| Maryland | 34 | April | Apr–May |
| Tennessee | 18 | April | Apr–May |
| North Carolina | 17 | March | Mar–Apr |
| Delaware | 8 | April | Apr–Apr |
| South Dakota | 5 | May | May–May |
Main season = months with at least 30% of the state's peak-month count.
Related wildflowers (buttercup family)
Lesser Celandine
Red Columbine
Western Columbine
Rue Anemone
Wood Anemone
Blue Columbine
Tenpetal Anemone
Prairie Pasqueflower
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 Marsh Marigold?
Nationally, May has the most observations, with the main season from April to May.
Where is Marsh Marigold most often seen?
The most observations come from Vermont, Michigan, Minnesota.