Upright Prairie Coneflower (Ratibida columnifera) is in the Sunflowers, Daisies, Asters, and Allies family (Asteraceae). Across the U.S., iNaturalist users have logged 2,572 research-grade flowering observations of it in our sample, peaking in May.
Nationally it blooms mainly from April to August, but timing varies a lot by state and elevation — see the table below.
When to photograph Upright Prairie Coneflower: observations by month (U.S.)
About Upright Prairie Coneflower
Ratibida columnifera, commonly known as upright prairie coneflower, rocketflower, Mexican hat, and longhead prairie coneflower, is a perennial species of flowering plant in the genus Ratibida in the family Asteraceae. It is native to much of North America and inhabits prairies, plains, roadsides, and disturbed areas.From Wikipedia via iNaturalist — article, CC BY-SA.
Upright Prairie Coneflower by state
| State | Observations | Peak month | Main season |
|---|---|---|---|
| Texas | 1,710 | May | Apr–Jun |
| Colorado | 202 | July | Jun–Jul |
| Minnesota | 125 | July | Jun–Aug |
| New Mexico | 74 | June | Jun–Aug |
| Oklahoma | 67 | June | May–Jun |
| Utah | 57 | July | Jun–Sep |
| North Dakota | 56 | July | Jul–Aug |
| Arizona | 38 | July | Jun–Sep |
| South Dakota | 37 | July | Jun–Aug |
| Montana | 31 | July | Jun–Aug |
| Nebraska | 29 | July | Jun–Aug |
| Iowa | 21 | July | Jul–Jul |
| Wyoming | 21 | July | Jul–Jul |
| Kansas | 19 | July | Jun–Aug |
| Ohio | 18 | June | Jun–Aug |
| Missouri | 9 | June | Jun–Jul |
| Mississippi | 7 | May | May–Jun |
| Arkansas | 5 | June | Jun–Jun |
| Indiana | 5 | July | Jun–Aug |
| Louisiana | 5 | May | May–Jul |
Main season = months with at least 30% of the state's peak-month count.
Related wildflowers (Sunflowers, Daisies, Asters, and Allies)
black-eyed Susan
Common Yarrow
White Snakeroot
Chicory
Lawn daisy
Philadelphia fleabane
Pearly Everlasting
Blue Mistflower
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 Upright Prairie Coneflower?
Nationally, May has the most observations, with the main season from April to August.
Where is Upright Prairie Coneflower most often seen?
The most observations come from Texas, Colorado, Minnesota.