Scarlet Fritillary (Fritillaria recurva) is in the lily family family (Liliaceae). Across the U.S., iNaturalist users have logged 2,049 research-grade flowering observations of it in our sample, peaking in April.
Nationally it blooms mainly from March to May, but timing varies a lot by state and elevation — see the table below.
When to photograph Scarlet Fritillary: observations by month (U.S.)
About Scarlet Fritillary
Fritillaria recurva, the scarlet fritillary, is a North American bulb-forming herb in the lily family.From Wikipedia via iNaturalist — article, CC BY-SA.
Scarlet Fritillary by state
| State | Observations | Peak month | Main season |
|---|---|---|---|
| California | 1,565 | April | Mar–May |
| Oregon | 484 | April | Mar–Apr |
Main season = months with at least 30% of the state's peak-month count.
Related wildflowers (lily family)
Yellow Trout Lily
Checker Lily
White Globe Lily
Leichtlin's Mariposa Lily
Yellow Mariposa Lily
White Fawnlily
Tolmie's pussy ears
Gunnison's Mariposa Lily
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 Scarlet Fritillary?
Nationally, April has the most observations, with the main season from March to May.
Where is Scarlet Fritillary most often seen?
The most observations come from California, Oregon.