Philadelphia fleabane (Erigeron philadelphicus) is in the Sunflowers, Daisies, Asters, and Allies family (Asteraceae). Across the U.S., iNaturalist users have logged 7,384 research-grade flowering observations of it in our sample, peaking in April.
Nationally it blooms mainly from April to May, but timing varies a lot by state and elevation — see the table below.
When to photograph Philadelphia fleabane: observations by month (U.S.)
About Philadelphia fleabane
Erigeron philadelphicus, the Philadelphia fleabane, is a widespread North American plant in the daisy family. Also known as common fleabane, daisy fleabane, frost-root, marsh fleabane, poor robin's plantain, skervish, and in the British Isles as robin's-plantain. It is native to North America and found there in nearly all of the United States and Canada. It is also introduced into Europe and Asia, considered an invasive weed in many places.From Wikipedia via iNaturalist — article, CC BY-SA.
Philadelphia fleabane by state
| State | Observations | Peak month | Main season |
|---|---|---|---|
| Georgia | 962 | April | Apr–Apr |
| Tennessee | 921 | April | Apr–May |
| North Carolina | 891 | April | Apr–May |
| Virginia | 711 | April | Apr–May |
| Alabama | 592 | April | Apr–Apr |
| New York | 481 | May | May–Jun |
| Pennsylvania | 467 | May | May–May |
| Mississippi | 292 | April | Mar–Apr |
| Ohio | 270 | May | May–May |
| New Jersey | 239 | May | May–May |
| Kentucky | 218 | April | Apr–Apr |
| Vermont | 197 | June | Jun–Jun |
| Michigan | 184 | May | May–Jun |
| Maryland | 172 | May | Apr–May |
| Illinois | 159 | May | Apr–Jun |
| Wisconsin | 81 | May | May–Jun |
| Indiana | 68 | May | May–May |
| Minnesota | 63 | June | May–Jul |
| Texas | 59 | March | Mar–Mar |
| West Virginia | 57 | May | Apr–May |
| Louisiana | 47 | March | Feb–Apr |
| Delaware | 43 | May | May–May |
| New Hampshire | 30 | June | May–Jun |
| Maine | 24 | June | Jun–Jul |
| Missouri | 22 | April | Apr–May |
| South Carolina | 21 | April | Apr–May |
| Washington | 21 | June | Jun–Aug |
| Connecticut | 19 | May | May–Jun |
| Arkansas | 16 | April | Apr–Apr |
| Oregon | 12 | June | Jun–Jun |
| District of Columbia | 11 | May | Apr–May |
| Massachusetts | 11 | June | May–Jun |
| Iowa | 7 | May | May–Jun |
| Kansas | 5 | April | Apr–Apr |
Main season = months with at least 30% of the state's peak-month count.
Related wildflowers (Sunflowers, Daisies, Asters, and Allies)
black-eyed Susan
Common Yarrow
White Snakeroot
Chicory
Lawn daisy
Pearly Everlasting
Blue Mistflower
brown-eyed Susan
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 Philadelphia fleabane?
Nationally, April has the most observations, with the main season from April to May.
Where is Philadelphia fleabane most often seen?
The most observations come from Georgia, Tennessee, North Carolina.