Monument Plant (Frasera speciosa) is in the gentian family family (Gentianaceae). Across the U.S., iNaturalist users have logged 1,178 research-grade flowering observations of it in our sample, peaking in July.
Nationally it blooms mainly from June to July, but timing varies a lot by state and elevation — see the table below.
When to photograph Monument Plant: observations by month (U.S.)
About Monument Plant
Frasera speciosa is a species of flowering plant in the Gentian Family (Gentianaceae) known by the common names elkweed, deer's ears, and monument plant.From Wikipedia via iNaturalist — article, CC BY-SA.
Monument Plant by state
| State | Observations | Peak month | Main season |
|---|---|---|---|
| Colorado | 497 | July | Jun–Jul |
| Utah | 230 | July | Jun–Jul |
| Wyoming | 123 | July | Jun–Jul |
| California | 97 | July | Jul–Aug |
| New Mexico | 53 | July | Jun–Jul |
| Montana | 45 | June | May–Jul |
| Arizona | 44 | June | Jun–Aug |
| Oregon | 38 | July | Jun–Jul |
| Nevada | 27 | July | Jun–Aug |
| Idaho | 13 | July | Jun–Jul |
| Washington | 6 | July | Jul–Jul |
| South Dakota | 5 | July | Jun–Aug |
Main season = months with at least 30% of the state's peak-month count.
Related wildflowers (gentian 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 Monument Plant?
Nationally, July has the most observations, with the main season from June to July.
Where is Monument Plant most often seen?
The most observations come from Colorado, Utah, Wyoming.