Miner's Lettuce (Claytonia perfoliata) is in the Pussypaw Family family (Montiaceae). Across the U.S., iNaturalist users have logged 2,165 research-grade flowering observations of it in our sample, peaking in April.
Nationally it blooms mainly from February to May, but timing varies a lot by state and elevation — see the table below.
When to photograph Miner's Lettuce: observations by month (U.S.)
About Miner's Lettuce
Claytonia perfoliata (syn. Montia perfoliata), also known as Indian lettuce, spring beauty, winter purslane, or miner's lettuce, is a flowering plant in the Montiaceae family. It is a fleshy, herbaceous annual plant native to the western mountain and coastal regions from southernmost Alaska and central British Columbia all the way south to Central America, but most common in California in the Sacramento and northern San Joaquin Valleys.From Wikipedia via iNaturalist — article, CC BY-SA.
Miner's Lettuce by state
| State | Observations | Peak month | Main season |
|---|---|---|---|
| California | 1,703 | April | Feb–Apr |
| Oregon | 207 | April | Apr–May |
| Washington | 173 | April | Mar–May |
| Utah | 38 | April | Apr–May |
| Arizona | 23 | March | Mar–Apr |
| Idaho | 10 | May | Apr–May |
| Nevada | 6 | March | Mar–Mar |
Main season = months with at least 30% of the state's peak-month count.
Related wildflowers (Pussypaw Family)
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 Miner's Lettuce?
Nationally, April has the most observations, with the main season from February to May.
Where is Miner's Lettuce most often seen?
The most observations come from California, Oregon, Washington.