Trailing Windmills (Allionia incarnata) is in the four o'clock family family (Nyctaginaceae). Across the U.S., iNaturalist users have logged 1,849 research-grade flowering observations of it in our sample, peaking in April.
Nationally it blooms mainly from August to May, but timing varies a lot by state and elevation — see the table below.
When to photograph Trailing Windmills: observations by month (U.S.)
About Trailing Windmills
Allionia, commonly known as windmills or trailing four o'clock, is a genus of two species widespread in the western hemisphere. They are unusual in their blooms, which actually consist of three separate flowers appearing to be a single flower.From Wikipedia via iNaturalist — article, CC BY-SA.
Trailing Windmills by state
| State | Observations | Peak month | Main season |
|---|---|---|---|
| California | 1,135 | March | Oct–Apr |
| Arizona | 358 | April | Apr–May |
| Nevada | 214 | May | Apr–May |
| New Mexico | 52 | August | Aug–Oct |
| Texas | 47 | September | Sep–Nov |
| Utah | 43 | May | Apr–Jun |
Main season = months with at least 30% of the state's peak-month count.
Related wildflowers (four o'clock 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 Trailing Windmills?
Nationally, April has the most observations, with the main season from August to May.
Where is Trailing Windmills most often seen?
The most observations come from California, Arizona, Nevada.