Virginia waterleaf (Hydrophyllum virginianum) is in the borage family family (Boraginaceae). Across the U.S., iNaturalist users have logged 1,680 research-grade flowering observations of it in our sample, peaking in May.
Nationally it blooms mainly from May to June, but timing varies a lot by state and elevation — see the table below.
When to photograph Virginia waterleaf: observations by month (U.S.)
About Virginia waterleaf
The Virginia waterleaf or eastern waterleaf (Hydrophyllum virginianum, often misspelled as virginicum) is an herbaceous perennial plant native to Eastern North America. The plant sometimes spreads by rhizomes to form large colonies in wooded areas. It can also spread by seeds. The seedling usually appear early to mid-spring. Flowers are blue, white, or purple, appearing in mid to late spring. Flowers exposed to sunlight bleach rapidly. Often the newer leaves are solid green with white spots...From Wikipedia via iNaturalist — article, CC BY-SA.
Virginia waterleaf by state
| State | Observations | Peak month | Main season |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minnesota | 289 | May | May–May |
| Wisconsin | 263 | May | May–Jun |
| Ohio | 232 | May | May–May |
| Vermont | 160 | June | Jun–Jun |
| Illinois | 142 | May | May–May |
| Pennsylvania | 134 | May | May–May |
| New York | 67 | June | May–Jun |
| Iowa | 62 | May | May–May |
| Virginia | 55 | May | Apr–Jun |
| Maryland | 49 | May | Apr–May |
| North Carolina | 39 | June | May–Jun |
| Michigan | 28 | May | May–Jun |
| Arkansas | 19 | April | Apr–May |
| Indiana | 19 | May | May–May |
| Missouri | 19 | May | May–May |
| Delaware | 18 | May | May–May |
| Massachusetts | 16 | June | May–Jun |
| West Virginia | 13 | May | Apr–May |
| New Jersey | 11 | May | May–May |
| South Dakota | 11 | May | May–Jun |
| Nebraska | 9 | May | May–May |
| District of Columbia | 8 | April | Apr–May |
| North Dakota | 7 | June | Jun–Jun |
Main season = months with at least 30% of the state's peak-month count.
Related wildflowers (borage family)
Virginia bluebells
Distant Phacelia
Pacific hound's tongue
Notch-leaf Scorpionweed
Miami Mist
Alkali Heliotrope
Menzies' baby blue eyes
Wild Canterbury Bells
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 Virginia waterleaf?
Nationally, May has the most observations, with the main season from May to June.
Where is Virginia waterleaf most often seen?
The most observations come from Minnesota, Wisconsin, Ohio.