Scarlet Pimpernel (Lysimachia arvensis) is in the primrose family family (Primulaceae). Across the U.S., iNaturalist users have logged 6,596 research-grade flowering observations of it in our sample, peaking in April.
Nationally it blooms mainly from March to June, but timing varies a lot by state and elevation — see the table below.
When to photograph Scarlet Pimpernel: observations by month (U.S.)
About Scarlet Pimpernel
Scarlet pimpernel, commonly known as blue-scarlet pimpernel, red pimpernel, red chickweed, poorman's barometer, poor man's weather-glass, shepherd's weather glass or shepherd's clock, is a low-growing annual plant. The native range of the species is Europe and Western Asia and North Africa. The species has been distributed widely by humans, either deliberately as an ornamental flower or accidentally. A. arvensis is now naturalised almost worldwide, with a range that encompasses the Americas, Central and East Asia, the...From Wikipedia via iNaturalist — article, CC BY-SA.
Scarlet Pimpernel by state
| State | Observations | Peak month | Main season |
|---|---|---|---|
| California | 4,059 | April | Mar–May |
| Texas | 877 | April | Mar–May |
| Pennsylvania | 220 | June | Jun–Jul |
| Oregon | 197 | June | May–Aug |
| New York | 169 | June | Jun–Aug |
| Massachusetts | 159 | June | Jun–Aug |
| New Jersey | 140 | June | Jun–Jul |
| Ohio | 110 | June | Jun–Aug |
| Maryland | 99 | June | Jun–Jul |
| Mississippi | 66 | April | Apr–May |
| Virginia | 49 | June | Jun–Aug |
| Delaware | 45 | June | Jun–Jul |
| Louisiana | 41 | April | Apr–May |
| Michigan | 41 | August | Jun–Sep |
| Alabama | 39 | April | Apr–Apr |
| Maine | 38 | August | Jun–Sep |
| Rhode Island | 34 | June | Jun–Aug |
| Arizona | 29 | April | Mar–May |
| Kentucky | 22 | June | Jun–Jul |
| Hawaii | 21 | May | Jan–May |
| Washington | 20 | July | Jul–Sep |
| Indiana | 16 | June | Jun–Aug |
| North Carolina | 16 | June | Jun–Jul |
| Illinois | 14 | June | Jun–Jul |
| West Virginia | 12 | June | May–Jul |
| South Carolina | 11 | April | Mar–May |
| Missouri | 8 | June | Jun–Jun |
| Connecticut | 7 | June | Jun–Jul |
| District of Columbia | 7 | June | May–Jun |
| Kansas | 6 | May | May–Aug |
| New Hampshire | 6 | June | Jun–Jun |
| Florida | 5 | March | Mar–Mar |
| Wisconsin | 5 | June | Jun–Jun |
Main season = months with at least 30% of the state's peak-month count.
Related wildflowers (primrose family)
Northern Starflower
Henderson's shooting star
Fringed Loosestrife
Western Starflower
Whorled Loosestrife
Eastern Shooting Star
Swamp Candles
Padre's Shooting Star
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 Pimpernel?
Nationally, April has the most observations, with the main season from March to June.
Where is Scarlet Pimpernel most often seen?
The most observations come from California, Texas, Pennsylvania.