Robin's-Plantain (Erigeron pulchellus) is in the Sunflowers, Daisies, Asters, and Allies family (Asteraceae). Across the U.S., iNaturalist users have logged 2,729 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 Robin's-Plantain: observations by month (U.S.)
About Robin's-Plantain
Erigeron pulchellus (Robin’s plantain, blue spring daisy, hairy fleabane) is a North American species of plants in the daisy family. It is widespread across much of the United States and Canada from Québec and Ontario south as far as eastern Texas and the Florida Panhandle.From Wikipedia via iNaturalist — article, CC BY-SA.
Robin's-Plantain by state
| State | Observations | Peak month | Main season |
|---|---|---|---|
| North Carolina | 1,030 | April | Apr–May |
| Tennessee | 301 | April | Apr–Apr |
| Vermont | 255 | June | May–Jun |
| Georgia | 174 | April | Mar–May |
| Virginia | 150 | April | Apr–May |
| South Carolina | 139 | March | Mar–Apr |
| Massachusetts | 101 | May | May–May |
| Wisconsin | 80 | May | May–Jun |
| Connecticut | 73 | May | May–May |
| New Hampshire | 67 | June | May–Jun |
| New York | 53 | May | May–Jun |
| Ohio | 36 | May | Apr–May |
| Kentucky | 31 | April | Apr–Apr |
| Pennsylvania | 30 | May | Apr–May |
| Arkansas | 28 | April | Mar–Apr |
| West Virginia | 27 | May | Apr–May |
| Illinois | 26 | May | Apr–May |
| Alabama | 20 | April | Apr–Apr |
| Missouri | 20 | April | Apr–Apr |
| Michigan | 16 | June | May–Jun |
| Maryland | 15 | April | Apr–Apr |
| Maine | 13 | June | May–Jun |
| Mississippi | 13 | April | Mar–Apr |
| Indiana | 10 | May | Apr–Jun |
| Rhode Island | 6 | May | May–May |
| New Jersey | 5 | May | May–May |
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
Philadelphia fleabane
Pearly Everlasting
Blue Mistflower
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 Robin's-Plantain?
Nationally, April has the most observations, with the main season from April to May.
Where is Robin's-Plantain most often seen?
The most observations come from North Carolina, Tennessee, Vermont.