Spotted spurge (Euphorbia maculata) is in the Spurge Family family (Euphorbiaceae). Across the U.S., iNaturalist users have logged 1,084 research-grade flowering observations of it in our sample, peaking in September.
Nationally it blooms mainly from June to October, but timing varies a lot by state and elevation — see the table below.
When to photograph Spotted spurge: observations by month (U.S.)
About Spotted spurge
Euphorbia maculata, variously called spotted spurge or prostrate spurge, the latter name not to be confused with Euphorbia prostrata, is a fast-growing annual plant in the family Euphorbiaceae, native to North America. It is a common garden and lawn weed in the United States.From Wikipedia via iNaturalist — article, CC BY-SA.
Spotted spurge by state
| State | Observations | Peak month | Main season |
|---|---|---|---|
| California | 373 | October | Jun–Oct |
| New York | 143 | May | May–Aug |
| Texas | 98 | October | Jun–Nov |
| Mississippi | 40 | August | Jun–Sep |
| Pennsylvania | 35 | September | Jul–Sep |
| Oregon | 29 | August | Aug–Oct |
| Georgia | 28 | July | Jul–Aug |
| North Carolina | 26 | July | Jul–Sep |
| Washington | 23 | July | Jul–Aug |
| Nebraska | 21 | June | May–Oct |
| Virginia | 21 | July | Jul–Sep |
| Florida | 18 | July | Jun–Jul |
| Maryland | 18 | August | Jul–Sep |
| Alabama | 16 | July | Jul–Sep |
| Massachusetts | 15 | August | Aug–Sep |
| Wisconsin | 15 | July | Jul–Sep |
| Vermont | 14 | August | Jul–Aug |
| Illinois | 13 | July | Jul–Sep |
| New Jersey | 12 | August | Aug–Oct |
| Ohio | 11 | July | Jul–Sep |
| Oklahoma | 11 | May | May–Oct |
| Kentucky | 10 | September | May–Oct |
| Michigan | 10 | August | Aug–Sep |
| Louisiana | 9 | August | Aug–Nov |
| Minnesota | 8 | August | Jul–Aug |
| Rhode Island | 7 | August | Jul–Sep |
| Tennessee | 7 | June | Jun–Jul |
| Connecticut | 5 | August | Jul–Sep |
| Maine | 5 | August | Aug–Sep |
| Utah | 5 | July | Jul–Aug |
Main season = months with at least 30% of the state's peak-month count.
Related wildflowers (Spurge 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 Spotted spurge?
Nationally, September has the most observations, with the main season from June to October.
Where is Spotted spurge most often seen?
The most observations come from California, New York, Texas.