Tall Thimbleweed (Anemone virginiana) is in the buttercup family family (Ranunculaceae). Across the U.S., iNaturalist users have logged 963 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 Tall Thimbleweed: observations by month (U.S.)
About Tall Thimbleweed
Anemone virginiana is an upright growing herbaceous plant species in the genus Anemone and family Ranunculaceae. It is a perennial that grows 30–80 centimetres (12–31 in) tall, flowering from May until July, the flowers are white or greenish-white. After flowering the fruits are produced in a dense rounded thimble shaped spikes 15–35 millimetres (0.59–1.38 in) long and 12 millimetres (0.47 in) wide. When the fruits, called achenes, are ripe they have gray-white colored, densely woolly styles, that allow themFrom Wikipedia via iNaturalist — article, CC BY-SA.
Tall Thimbleweed by state
| State | Observations | Peak month | Main season |
|---|---|---|---|
| North Carolina | 160 | June | Jun–Jul |
| Kentucky | 151 | June | Jun–Jul |
| Vermont | 109 | July | Jun–Jul |
| New York | 59 | June | Jun–Jul |
| Ohio | 54 | July | Jun–Jul |
| Minnesota | 41 | June | Jun–Jul |
| Wisconsin | 40 | June | Jun–Jul |
| Indiana | 39 | July | Jun–Jul |
| Illinois | 36 | June | Jun–Jul |
| Tennessee | 32 | June | Jun–Jul |
| Virginia | 32 | June | Jun–Jul |
| Pennsylvania | 29 | July | Jun–Jul |
| Arkansas | 25 | June | May–Jun |
| Michigan | 21 | June | Jun–Jul |
| Alabama | 19 | June | May–Jul |
| Maine | 19 | June | Jun–Jul |
| Maryland | 17 | June | Jun–Jul |
| West Virginia | 16 | June | Jun–Jul |
| Massachusetts | 15 | July | Jun–Jul |
| New Hampshire | 11 | June | Jun–Jul |
| Missouri | 9 | June | May–Jun |
| Georgia | 7 | June | Jun–Jul |
| Iowa | 6 | June | Jun–Jul |
| New Jersey | 5 | July | Jul–Jul |
Main season = months with at least 30% of the state's peak-month count.
Related wildflowers (buttercup family)
Lesser Celandine
Red Columbine
Western Columbine
Rue Anemone
Marsh Marigold
Wood Anemone
Blue Columbine
Tenpetal Anemone
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 Tall Thimbleweed?
Nationally, June has the most observations, with the main season from June to July.
Where is Tall Thimbleweed most often seen?
The most observations come from North Carolina, Kentucky, Vermont.