Santa Maria feverfew (Parthenium hysterophorus) is in the Sunflowers, Daisies, Asters, and Allies family (Asteraceae). Across the U.S., iNaturalist users have logged 1,067 research-grade flowering observations of it in our sample, peaking in April.
Nationally it blooms mainly from February to December, but timing varies a lot by state and elevation — see the table below.
When to photograph Santa Maria feverfew: observations by month (U.S.)
About Santa Maria feverfew
Parthenium hysterophorus is a species of flowering plant in the aster family, Asteraceae. It is native to the American tropics. Common names include Santa-Maria, Santa Maria feverfew, whitetop weed, famine weed, and congress weed. In India, it is locally known as carrot grass, congress grass or Gajar Ghans. It is a common invasive species in India, Australia, and parts of Africa.From Wikipedia via iNaturalist — article, CC BY-SA.
Santa Maria feverfew by state
| State | Observations | Peak month | Main season |
|---|---|---|---|
| Texas | 985 | April | Mar–Dec |
| Louisiana | 46 | July | May–Dec |
| Florida | 14 | February | Feb–Feb |
| Hawaii | 11 | October | Aug–Oct |
| Oklahoma | 8 | September | Sep–Nov |
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 Santa Maria feverfew?
Nationally, April has the most observations, with the main season from February to December.
Where is Santa Maria feverfew most often seen?
The most observations come from Texas, Louisiana, Florida.