Sulphur Cinquefoil (Potentilla recta) is in the rose family family (Rosaceae). Across the U.S., iNaturalist users have logged 2,412 research-grade flowering observations of it in our sample, peaking in June.
Nationally it blooms mainly from June to July, but timing varies a lot by state and elevation — see the table below.
When to photograph Sulphur Cinquefoil: observations by month (U.S.)
About Sulphur Cinquefoil
Potentilla recta, the sulphur cinquefoil or rough-fruited cinquefoil, is a species of cinquefoil. It is native to Eurasia but it is present in North America as an introduced species, ranging through almost the entire continent except the northernmost part of Canada and Alaska.From Wikipedia via iNaturalist — article, CC BY-SA.
Sulphur Cinquefoil by state
| State | Observations | Peak month | Main season |
|---|---|---|---|
| New York | 309 | June | Jun–Jun |
| Vermont | 303 | June | Jun–Jul |
| Massachusetts | 164 | June | Jun–Jun |
| Pennsylvania | 163 | June | Jun–Jun |
| Minnesota | 161 | June | Jun–Jul |
| Wisconsin | 149 | June | Jun–Jul |
| Ohio | 128 | June | Jun–Jun |
| North Carolina | 106 | June | May–Jun |
| Kentucky | 103 | May | May–Jun |
| New Hampshire | 103 | June | Jun–Jul |
| Michigan | 100 | June | Jun–Jul |
| Illinois | 84 | June | Jun–Jun |
| New Jersey | 72 | June | Jun–Jun |
| Maine | 68 | June | Jun–Jul |
| Washington | 47 | June | Jun–Jul |
| Connecticut | 42 | June | Jun–Jul |
| Virginia | 40 | June | May–Jun |
| Arkansas | 39 | May | May–May |
| Indiana | 35 | June | Jun–Jun |
| Maryland | 35 | June | May–Jun |
| Missouri | 29 | May | May–Jun |
| West Virginia | 20 | June | Jun–Jun |
| Tennessee | 17 | May | May–Jun |
| Delaware | 14 | May | May–Jun |
| Montana | 13 | July | Jun–Aug |
| Rhode Island | 13 | June | Jun–Jun |
| Iowa | 12 | June | Jun–Jun |
| Georgia | 8 | May | Apr–May |
| Oklahoma | 8 | May | May–Jun |
| Oregon | 6 | July | Jul–Jul |
| Idaho | 5 | July | Jun–Aug |
Main season = months with at least 30% of the state's peak-month count.
Related wildflowers (rose family)
Multiflora Rose
Virginia strawberry
Southern Dewberry
Trailing Blackberry
Purple-Flowered Raspberry
Thimbleberry
Salmonberry
Mock Strawberry
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 Sulphur Cinquefoil?
Nationally, June has the most observations, with the main season from June to July.
Where is Sulphur Cinquefoil most often seen?
The most observations come from New York, Vermont, Massachusetts.