Star-Flowered Lily-Of-The-Valley (Maianthemum stellatum) is in the agave and allies family (Asparagaceae). Across the U.S., iNaturalist users have logged 2,573 research-grade flowering observations of it in our sample, peaking in May.
Nationally it blooms mainly from April to June, but timing varies a lot by state and elevation — see the table below.
When to photograph Star-Flowered Lily-Of-The-Valley: observations by month (U.S.)
About Star-Flowered Lily-Of-The-Valley
Maianthemum stellatum (star-flowered, starry, or little false Solomon's seal, or simply false Solomon's seal; star-flowered lily-of-the-valley or starry false lily of the valley; syn. Smilacina stellata) is a species of flowering plant, native across North America generally from Alaska to California to North Carolina to Newfoundland, plus northern Mexico (Sonora, Chihuahua, Coahuila, Nuevo León). It has been found in every Canadian province and territory except Nunavut, and from every US state except Hawaii and the states...From Wikipedia via iNaturalist — article, CC BY-SA.
Star-Flowered Lily-Of-The-Valley by state
| State | Observations | Peak month | Main season |
|---|---|---|---|
| California | 537 | March | Mar–Apr |
| Oregon | 411 | May | Apr–Jun |
| Washington | 245 | May | May–Jun |
| Illinois | 179 | May | May–May |
| Wisconsin | 164 | May | May–May |
| Michigan | 148 | May | May–May |
| Utah | 115 | May | May–Jun |
| Vermont | 115 | May | May–May |
| Colorado | 105 | June | May–Jun |
| Minnesota | 93 | May | May–May |
| Montana | 51 | June | May–Jun |
| Massachusetts | 47 | May | May–May |
| Ohio | 42 | May | May–May |
| Idaho | 41 | May | May–Jun |
| Arizona | 30 | June | May–Jun |
| Wyoming | 29 | June | Jun–Jun |
| Nevada | 27 | June | May–Jun |
| New York | 26 | May | May–May |
| New Hampshire | 25 | May | May–Jun |
| Indiana | 22 | May | May–May |
| Maine | 20 | May | May–Jun |
| New Mexico | 18 | June | May–Jun |
| North Dakota | 17 | May | May–May |
| Iowa | 16 | May | May–May |
| South Dakota | 11 | May | May–Jun |
| Alaska | 9 | May | May–Jun |
| Nebraska | 8 | May | Apr–May |
| Connecticut | 5 | May | May–May |
| Pennsylvania | 5 | May | May–May |
Main season = months with at least 30% of the state's peak-month count.
Related wildflowers (agave and allies)
Ithuriel's Spear
Blue Dicks
common star-of-Bethlehem
Chaparral Yucca
Canada mayflower
Solomon's plume
Desert Lily
Small Camas
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 Star-Flowered Lily-Of-The-Valley?
Nationally, May has the most observations, with the main season from April to June.
Where is Star-Flowered Lily-Of-The-Valley most often seen?
The most observations come from California, Oregon, Washington.