Rocky Mountain Beeplant (Cleomella serrulata) is in the Spider Flower Family family (Cleomaceae). Across the U.S., iNaturalist users have logged 3,856 research-grade flowering observations of it in our sample, peaking in August.
Nationally it blooms mainly from July to September, but timing varies a lot by state and elevation — see the table below.
When to photograph Rocky Mountain Beeplant: observations by month (U.S.)
About Rocky Mountain Beeplant
Cleomella serrulata (syns. Cleome serrulata and Peritoma serrulata), commonly known as Rocky Mountain beeplant/beeweed, stinking-clover, bee spider-flower, skunk weed, Navajo spinach, and guaco, is a species of annual plant in the genus Cleomella. Many species of insects are attracted to it, especially bees, which helps in the pollination of nearby plants. It is native to southern Canada and the western and central United States. The plant has often been used for food, to make dyes for...From Wikipedia via iNaturalist — article, CC BY-SA.
Rocky Mountain Beeplant by state
| State | Observations | Peak month | Main season |
|---|---|---|---|
| Colorado | 1,701 | August | Jun–Sep |
| Utah | 668 | August | Jul–Sep |
| New Mexico | 445 | July | Jun–Sep |
| Arizona | 218 | August | Jul–Sep |
| Nevada | 165 | August | Jul–Sep |
| Wyoming | 159 | August | Jul–Aug |
| Idaho | 142 | August | Jul–Sep |
| Montana | 112 | August | Jul–Sep |
| Nebraska | 84 | August | Jul–Aug |
| South Dakota | 37 | August | Jul–Sep |
| North Dakota | 36 | August | Jul–Sep |
| Oregon | 29 | August | Jul–Sep |
| California | 20 | August | Aug–Aug |
| Washington | 12 | August | Aug–Sep |
| Kansas | 11 | August | Aug–Sep |
| Minnesota | 7 | July | Jul–Sep |
| Oklahoma | 7 | August | Jun–Oct |
Main season = months with at least 30% of the state's peak-month count.
Related wildflowers (Spider Flower Family)
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 Rocky Mountain Beeplant?
Nationally, August has the most observations, with the main season from July to September.
Where is Rocky Mountain Beeplant most often seen?
The most observations come from Colorado, Utah, New Mexico.