Violet Woodsorrel (Oxalis violacea) is in the Woodsorrel Family family (Oxalidaceae). Across the U.S., iNaturalist users have logged 2,610 research-grade flowering observations of it in our sample, peaking in April.
Nationally it blooms mainly from April to May, but timing varies a lot by state and elevation — see the table below.
When to photograph Violet Woodsorrel: observations by month (U.S.)
About Violet Woodsorrel
Oxalis violacea, the violet wood-sorrel, is a perennial plant and herb in the Oxalidaceae family. Oxalis species are also known as sour grass, sour trefoil, and shamrock.From Wikipedia via iNaturalist — article, CC BY-SA.
Violet Woodsorrel by state
| State | Observations | Peak month | Main season |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minnesota | 383 | May | May–May |
| Kentucky | 366 | April | Apr–Apr |
| Arkansas | 239 | April | Mar–Apr |
| North Carolina | 163 | April | Apr–Apr |
| Virginia | 155 | April | Apr–May |
| Tennessee | 151 | April | Apr–Apr |
| Alabama | 150 | March | Mar–Apr |
| Mississippi | 133 | April | Mar–Apr |
| Illinois | 130 | April | Apr–May |
| Missouri | 130 | April | Apr–Apr |
| Maryland | 92 | May | Apr–May |
| Georgia | 75 | April | Apr–Apr |
| Ohio | 71 | May | Apr–May |
| Pennsylvania | 67 | May | May–May |
| Wisconsin | 56 | May | May–May |
| Oklahoma | 53 | April | Mar–Apr |
| Indiana | 39 | April | Apr–May |
| Texas | 32 | March | Mar–Mar |
| Kansas | 28 | April | Apr–May |
| South Carolina | 24 | April | Apr–Apr |
| West Virginia | 23 | May | Apr–May |
| Nebraska | 11 | May | May–May |
| Iowa | 8 | May | Apr–May |
| Louisiana | 7 | April | Feb–May |
| Delaware | 6 | May | May–May |
| South Dakota | 6 | May | May–May |
| Massachusetts | 5 | May | May–May |
Main season = months with at least 30% of the state's peak-month count.
Related wildflowers (Woodsorrel Family)
Bermuda buttercup
Redwood Sorrel
Mountain Woodsorrel
Upright Yellow Woodsorrel
Largeflower pink-sorrel
Oregon woodsorrel
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 Violet Woodsorrel?
Nationally, April has the most observations, with the main season from April to May.
Where is Violet Woodsorrel most often seen?
The most observations come from Minnesota, Kentucky, Arkansas.