Purple Groundcherry (Quincula lobata) is in the nightshade family family (Solanaceae). Across the U.S., iNaturalist users have logged 3,796 research-grade flowering observations of it in our sample, peaking in May.
Nationally it blooms mainly from March to June, but timing varies a lot by state and elevation — see the table below.
When to photograph Purple Groundcherry: observations by month (U.S.)
About Purple Groundcherry
Quincula is a monotypic genus of flowering plants in the nightshade family, Solanaceae. The sole species it contains, Quincula lobata, is commonly known as Chinese lantern, lobed groundcherry, or purple groundcherry.From Wikipedia via iNaturalist — article, CC BY-SA.
Purple Groundcherry by state
| State | Observations | Peak month | Main season |
|---|---|---|---|
| Texas | 2,153 | April | Mar–Jun |
| Colorado | 1,020 | May | May–Jun |
| New Mexico | 250 | May | Apr–Sep |
| Oklahoma | 203 | May | Apr–Jun |
| Kansas | 85 | May | Apr–Jun |
| Arizona | 67 | April | Mar–Apr |
| Nevada | 18 | April | Mar–May |
Main season = months with at least 30% of the state's peak-month count.
Related wildflowers (nightshade family)
Carolina horsenettle
Sacred Datura
Bittersweet Nightshade
Silverleaf Nightshade
Tree Tobacco
Thickleaf Groundcherry
Desert Tobacco
Bluewitch Nightshade
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 Purple Groundcherry?
Nationally, May has the most observations, with the main season from March to June.
Where is Purple Groundcherry most often seen?
The most observations come from Texas, Colorado, New Mexico.