Pigeonwings (Clitoria mariana) is in the Legumes family (Fabaceae). Across the U.S., iNaturalist users have logged 946 research-grade flowering observations of it in our sample, peaking in July.
Nationally it blooms mainly from June to August, but timing varies a lot by state and elevation — see the table below.
When to photograph Pigeonwings: observations by month (U.S.)
About Pigeonwings
Clitoria mariana (known by the common names butterfly pea or Atlantic pigeon wings), is a perennial forb.From Wikipedia via iNaturalist — article, CC BY-SA.
Pigeonwings by state
| State | Observations | Peak month | Main season |
|---|---|---|---|
| North Carolina | 158 | July | Jun–Aug |
| Texas | 113 | May | May–Sep |
| Georgia | 105 | June | Jun–Aug |
| Arkansas | 87 | July | May–Aug |
| South Carolina | 79 | July | Jun–Aug |
| Mississippi | 78 | June | May–Aug |
| Alabama | 76 | July | Jun–Aug |
| Florida | 66 | June | May–Aug |
| Kentucky | 47 | July | Jul–Aug |
| Virginia | 43 | July | Jun–Aug |
| Tennessee | 33 | July | Jul–Jul |
| Oklahoma | 16 | July | Jun–Sep |
| Maryland | 12 | July | Jun–Aug |
| Arizona | 8 | August | Jul–Aug |
| Missouri | 8 | July | Jul–Aug |
| Illinois | 7 | May | May–May |
| Louisiana | 6 | June | Jun–Jun |
Main season = months with at least 30% of the state's peak-month count.
Related wildflowers (Legumes)
White Clover
Red Clover
Texas bluebonnet
Bird's-Foot Trefoil
Rose Clover
Tomcat Clover
American hog-peanut
Purple Crownvetch
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 Pigeonwings?
Nationally, July has the most observations, with the main season from June to August.
Where is Pigeonwings most often seen?
The most observations come from North Carolina, Texas, Georgia.