Striped Wintergreen (Chimaphila maculata) is in the heath family family (Ericaceae). Across the U.S., iNaturalist users have logged 7,011 research-grade flowering observations of it in our sample, peaking in June.
Nationally it blooms mainly from May to July, but timing varies a lot by state and elevation — see the table below.
When to photograph Striped Wintergreen: observations by month (U.S.)
About Striped Wintergreen
Chimaphila maculata (spotted wintergreen, also called striped wintergreen, striped prince's pine, spotted pipsissewa, ratsbane, or rheumatism root) is a small (10–25 cm tall), perennial evergreen herb native to eastern North America and Central America, from southern Quebec west to Illinois, and south to Florida and Panama.From Wikipedia via iNaturalist — article, CC BY-SA.
Striped Wintergreen by state
| State | Observations | Peak month | Main season |
|---|---|---|---|
| North Carolina | 1,195 | June | May–Jun |
| Massachusetts | 1,007 | July | Jul–Jul |
| Virginia | 783 | June | Jun–Jun |
| New York | 471 | July | Jul–Jul |
| Tennessee | 458 | June | Jun–Jun |
| Pennsylvania | 389 | July | Jun–Jul |
| Connecticut | 357 | July | Jul–Jul |
| Maryland | 355 | June | Jun–Jun |
| Georgia | 353 | May | May–Jun |
| New Jersey | 351 | June | Jun–Jul |
| South Carolina | 243 | May | May–Jun |
| Kentucky | 203 | June | Jun–Jun |
| West Virginia | 166 | June | Jun–Jul |
| Alabama | 148 | May | May–Jun |
| Ohio | 126 | June | Jun–Jul |
| Rhode Island | 113 | July | Jul–Jul |
| Michigan | 107 | July | Jul–Jul |
| New Hampshire | 54 | July | Jul–Jul |
| Delaware | 39 | June | Jun–Jun |
| Indiana | 34 | June | Jun–Jul |
| District of Columbia | 18 | June | Jun–Jun |
| Maine | 17 | July | Jul–Jul |
| Vermont | 12 | July | Jul–Jul |
| Mississippi | 11 | May | May–May |
Main season = months with at least 30% of the state's peak-month count.
Related wildflowers (heath family)
Trailing Arbutus
Mountain Laurel
Ghost Pipe
Pipsissewa
Great Rhododendron
Sheep Laurel
Flame Azalea
Pinesap
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 Striped Wintergreen?
Nationally, June has the most observations, with the main season from May to July.
Where is Striped Wintergreen most often seen?
The most observations come from North Carolina, Massachusetts, Virginia.