Sacred Datura (Datura wrightii) is in the nightshade family family (Solanaceae). Across the U.S., iNaturalist users have logged 4,638 research-grade flowering observations of it in our sample, peaking in September.
Nationally it blooms mainly from March to November, but timing varies a lot by state and elevation — see the table below.
When to photograph Sacred Datura: observations by month (U.S.)
About Sacred Datura
Datura wrighti, or sacred datura, is the name of a poisonous perennial plant and ornamental flower of southwestern North America. It is sometimes used as a hallucinogen. D. wrighti is classified as a deliriant and an anticholinergic.From Wikipedia via iNaturalist — article, CC BY-SA.
Sacred Datura by state
| State | Observations | Peak month | Main season |
|---|---|---|---|
| California | 3,491 | May | Mar–Nov |
| Utah | 358 | September | May–Oct |
| Arizona | 290 | May | Apr–Oct |
| Nevada | 228 | September | Apr–Oct |
| New Mexico | 108 | September | May–Oct |
| Texas | 59 | September | Jun–Oct |
| New York | 28 | September | Aug–Oct |
| Colorado | 13 | September | Aug–Sep |
| Ohio | 11 | August | Jul–Aug |
| New Jersey | 7 | August | Aug–Sep |
| Oklahoma | 7 | September | Jul–Nov |
| Michigan | 5 | September | Aug–Sep |
Main season = months with at least 30% of the state's peak-month count.
Related wildflowers (nightshade family)
Carolina horsenettle
Bittersweet Nightshade
Silverleaf Nightshade
Purple Groundcherry
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 Sacred Datura?
Nationally, September has the most observations, with the main season from March to November.
Where is Sacred Datura most often seen?
The most observations come from California, Utah, Arizona.