Northern Bedstraw (Galium boreale) is in the madder family family (Rubiaceae). Across the U.S., iNaturalist users have logged 1,220 research-grade flowering observations of it in our sample, peaking in June.
Nationally it blooms mainly from June to July, but timing varies a lot by state and elevation — see the table below.
When to photograph Northern Bedstraw: observations by month (U.S.)
About Northern Bedstraw
Galium boreale or northern bedstraw is a plant species of the Rubiaceae. It is widespread over the temperate and subarctic regions of Europe, Asia and North America including most of Canada and the northern United States.From Wikipedia via iNaturalist — article, CC BY-SA.
Northern Bedstraw by state
| State | Observations | Peak month | Main season |
|---|---|---|---|
| Colorado | 367 | July | Jun–Jul |
| Wisconsin | 213 | June | Jun–Jun |
| Minnesota | 188 | June | Jun–Jul |
| Illinois | 71 | June | Jun–Jun |
| Montana | 62 | July | Jun–Aug |
| Alaska | 46 | July | Jun–Aug |
| Michigan | 46 | June | Jun–Jun |
| Wyoming | 46 | July | Jul–Jul |
| New Mexico | 42 | July | Jun–Jul |
| Oregon | 27 | July | Jun–Jul |
| Utah | 21 | July | Jul–Jul |
| North Dakota | 18 | June | Jun–Jul |
| South Dakota | 17 | July | Jun–Jul |
| Idaho | 12 | July | Jun–Jul |
| Ohio | 11 | June | Jun–Jun |
| Indiana | 8 | June | Jun–Jun |
| New York | 8 | June | Jun–Jun |
| Pennsylvania | 7 | June | Jun–Jun |
Main season = months with at least 30% of the state's peak-month count.
Related wildflowers (madder 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 Northern Bedstraw?
Nationally, June has the most observations, with the main season from June to July.
Where is Northern Bedstraw most often seen?
The most observations come from Colorado, Wisconsin, Minnesota.