Pale-Spiked Lobelia (Lobelia spicata) is in the bellflower family family (Campanulaceae). Across the U.S., iNaturalist users have logged 1,189 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 Pale-Spiked Lobelia: observations by month (U.S.)
About Pale-Spiked Lobelia
Lobelia spicata, commonly called the pale spiked lobelia, is flowering plant in the bellflower family.From Wikipedia via iNaturalist — article, CC BY-SA.
Pale-Spiked Lobelia by state
| State | Observations | Peak month | Main season |
|---|---|---|---|
| Illinois | 126 | June | Jun–Jun |
| Pennsylvania | 116 | June | Jun–Jun |
| North Carolina | 102 | June | May–Jun |
| Ohio | 101 | July | Jun–Jul |
| Wisconsin | 93 | June | Jun–Jul |
| Minnesota | 84 | June | Jun–Jul |
| Vermont | 76 | July | Jul–Jul |
| Kentucky | 54 | July | May–Jul |
| Arkansas | 48 | June | Jun–Jul |
| Mississippi | 42 | July | Jun–Jul |
| Virginia | 42 | June | Jun–Jun |
| Missouri | 41 | June | May–Jul |
| New York | 35 | July | Jun–Jul |
| Maryland | 29 | June | Jun–Jun |
| Massachusetts | 29 | July | Jun–Jul |
| Michigan | 27 | July | Jun–Jul |
| New Jersey | 21 | June | Jun–Jun |
| Tennessee | 21 | June | Jun–Aug |
| Connecticut | 17 | June | Jun–Jul |
| Indiana | 15 | July | Jun–Jul |
| Alabama | 13 | June | May–Jul |
| Iowa | 10 | June | Jun–Jul |
| New Hampshire | 10 | July | Jul–Jul |
| Maine | 7 | July | Jun–Aug |
| Nebraska | 6 | June | Jun–Jul |
| West Virginia | 6 | June | Jun–Jul |
| Georgia | 5 | June | Jun–Jun |
Main season = months with at least 30% of the state's peak-month count.
Related wildflowers (bellflower family)
Cardinal Flower
Great Blue Lobelia
Tall Bellflower
Indian tobacco
clasping Venus's looking glass
Creeping Bellflower
Western Harebell
Downy Lobelia
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 Pale-Spiked Lobelia?
Nationally, June has the most observations, with the main season from June to July.
Where is Pale-Spiked Lobelia most often seen?
The most observations come from Illinois, Pennsylvania, North Carolina.