Partridgeberry (Mitchella repens) is in the madder family family (Rubiaceae). Across the U.S., iNaturalist users have logged 11,081 research-grade flowering observations of it in our sample, peaking in June.
Nationally it blooms mainly from April to June, but timing varies a lot by state and elevation — see the table below.
When to photograph Partridgeberry: observations by month (U.S.)
About Partridgeberry
Mitchella repens (partridge berry, or squaw vine) is the best known plant in the genus Mitchella. It is a creeping prostrate herbaceous woody shrub occurring in North America belonging to the madder family (Rubiaceae).From Wikipedia via iNaturalist — article, CC BY-SA.
Partridgeberry by state
| State | Observations | Peak month | Main season |
|---|---|---|---|
| North Carolina | 1,093 | May | May–May |
| Virginia | 875 | May | May–May |
| Pennsylvania | 786 | June | Jun–Jun |
| Maryland | 719 | May | May–Jun |
| New York | 696 | June | Jun–Jun |
| Massachusetts | 641 | June | Jun–Jun |
| Florida | 597 | March | Mar–Apr |
| Tennessee | 516 | May | May–May |
| South Carolina | 507 | April | Apr–May |
| New Hampshire | 492 | June | Jun–Jul |
| Vermont | 412 | June | Jun–Jul |
| Alabama | 411 | April | Apr–May |
| Maine | 393 | June | Jun–Jul |
| Georgia | 392 | May | Apr–May |
| New Jersey | 342 | June | May–Jun |
| Michigan | 295 | June | Jun–Jul |
| Ohio | 277 | June | Jun–Jun |
| Connecticut | 256 | June | Jun–Jun |
| Wisconsin | 228 | June | Jun–Jul |
| Texas | 185 | April | Apr–Apr |
| West Virginia | 175 | June | May–Jun |
| Mississippi | 167 | April | Apr–May |
| Kentucky | 152 | May | May–May |
| Louisiana | 119 | April | Apr–Apr |
| Arkansas | 103 | May | Apr–May |
| Delaware | 72 | May | May–Jun |
| Rhode Island | 58 | June | Jun–Jun |
| Indiana | 43 | May | May–Jun |
| District of Columbia | 32 | May | May–Jun |
| Minnesota | 17 | June | Jun–Jun |
| Missouri | 16 | June | May–Jun |
| Illinois | 8 | May | May–Jun |
| Oklahoma | 5 | May | May–May |
Main season = months with at least 30% of the state's peak-month count.
Related wildflowers (madder family)
Azure Bluet
Buttonbush
Catchweed Bedstraw
Field madder
Tiny Bluet
Buttonweed
Northern Bedstraw
Summer Bluet
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 Partridgeberry?
Nationally, June has the most observations, with the main season from April to June.
Where is Partridgeberry most often seen?
The most observations come from North Carolina, Virginia, Pennsylvania.