Pinesap (Monotropa hypopitys) is in the heath family family (Ericaceae). Across the U.S., iNaturalist users have logged 2,450 research-grade flowering observations of it in our sample, peaking in September.
Nationally it blooms mainly from June to September, but timing varies a lot by state and elevation — see the table below.
When to photograph Pinesap: observations by month (U.S.)
About Pinesap
Monotropa hypopitys — called Dutchman's pipe, false beech-drops, pinesap, or yellow bird's-nest — is a herbaceous perennial plant, formerly classified in the families Monotropaceae or Pyrolaceae, but now included within the subfamily Monotropoideae of the blueberry family (Ericaceae). It is native to temperate regions of the Northern Hemisphere, and is scarce or rare in many areas. However, it is still the most widespread member of the subfamily. While currently included in the genus Monotropa, recent genetic...From Wikipedia via iNaturalist — article, CC BY-SA.
Pinesap by state
| State | Observations | Peak month | Main season |
|---|---|---|---|
| North Carolina | 299 | September | Sep–Sep |
| Washington | 275 | June | Jun–Aug |
| Virginia | 267 | September | Sep–Sep |
| Massachusetts | 197 | September | Sep–Sep |
| Oregon | 141 | June | May–Aug |
| Maryland | 115 | September | Sep–Sep |
| New York | 114 | September | Sep–Sep |
| Maine | 93 | June | Jun–Aug |
| Tennessee | 93 | September | Sep–Sep |
| Michigan | 83 | June | Jun–Jun |
| Ohio | 76 | September | Sep–Sep |
| Connecticut | 74 | September | Sep–Sep |
| Kentucky | 73 | September | Sep–Sep |
| Georgia | 64 | September | Sep–Sep |
| Vermont | 58 | June | Jun–Aug |
| Pennsylvania | 56 | September | Sep–Sep |
| New Jersey | 50 | September | Sep–Sep |
| Colorado | 42 | August | Jul–Aug |
| Rhode Island | 27 | September | Sep–Sep |
| New Hampshire | 26 | June | Jun–Aug |
| South Carolina | 23 | September | Sep–Sep |
| Arizona | 22 | August | Aug–Sep |
| New Mexico | 22 | August | Aug–Sep |
| Indiana | 21 | June | Jun–Jul |
| Wisconsin | 21 | June | Jun–Jul |
| Arkansas | 19 | June | May–Jun |
| West Virginia | 16 | September | Sep–Sep |
| Alabama | 14 | September | Sep–Oct |
| Mississippi | 14 | June | May–Jun |
| Illinois | 10 | July | Jul–Jul |
| Alaska | 9 | August | Jul–Aug |
| Montana | 8 | July | Jul–Aug |
| District of Columbia | 7 | June | Jun–Jun |
| Missouri | 6 | June | Jun–Jun |
Main season = months with at least 30% of the state's peak-month count.
Related wildflowers (heath family)
Striped Wintergreen
Trailing Arbutus
Mountain Laurel
Ghost Pipe
Pipsissewa
Great Rhododendron
Sheep Laurel
Flame Azalea
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 Pinesap?
Nationally, September has the most observations, with the main season from June to September.
Where is Pinesap most often seen?
The most observations come from North Carolina, Washington, Virginia.