St. Andrew's cross (Hypericum hypericoides) is in the St. John's wort family family (Hypericaceae). Across the U.S., iNaturalist users have logged 1,010 research-grade flowering observations of it in our sample, peaking in August.
Nationally it blooms mainly from July to October, but timing varies a lot by state and elevation — see the table below.
When to photograph St. Andrew's cross: observations by month (U.S.)
About St. Andrew's cross
Hypericum hypericoides, commonly called St. Andrew's cross, is a species of flowering plant in the St. John's wort family, Hypericaceae. It is native to the Southeastern United States, Mexico, Central America, and the Caribbean. Its preferred habitat is dry woods on acidic soil. It is an erect shrub that produces yellow flowers with four petals.From Wikipedia via iNaturalist — article, CC BY-SA.
St. Andrew's cross by state
| State | Observations | Peak month | Main season |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mississippi | 218 | July | Jul–Sep |
| Texas | 197 | October | Jun–Nov |
| Florida | 185 | August | Jul–Dec |
| North Carolina | 85 | August | Jul–Aug |
| Alabama | 67 | August | Jul–Aug |
| Georgia | 58 | August | Aug–Sep |
| South Carolina | 47 | August | Jul–Aug |
| Arkansas | 36 | July | Jul–Aug |
| Louisiana | 22 | August | Jun–Aug |
| Virginia | 22 | August | Jul–Aug |
| Maryland | 15 | July | Jul–Aug |
| New Jersey | 15 | July | Jul–Jul |
| Kentucky | 12 | July | Jun–Jul |
| Tennessee | 9 | July | Jul–Aug |
| Ohio | 7 | August | Jul–Aug |
| Oklahoma | 5 | July | Jul–Aug |
Main season = months with at least 30% of the state's peak-month count.
Related wildflowers (St. John's wort 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 St. Andrew's cross?
Nationally, August has the most observations, with the main season from July to October.
Where is St. Andrew's cross most often seen?
The most observations come from Mississippi, Texas, Florida.