Wingstem (Verbesina alternifolia) is in the Sunflowers, Daisies, Asters, and Allies family (Asteraceae). Across the U.S., iNaturalist users have logged 3,317 research-grade flowering observations of it in our sample, peaking in September.
Nationally it blooms mainly from August to September, but timing varies a lot by state and elevation — see the table below.
When to photograph Wingstem: observations by month (U.S.)
About Wingstem
Verbesina alternifolia is a species of flowering plant in the Asteraceae family. It is commonly known as wingstem.From Wikipedia via iNaturalist — article, CC BY-SA.
Wingstem by state
| State | Observations | Peak month | Main season |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ohio | 617 | September | Aug–Sep |
| Pennsylvania | 443 | September | Aug–Sep |
| Virginia | 338 | September | Aug–Sep |
| North Carolina | 260 | September | Aug–Sep |
| Indiana | 212 | September | Aug–Sep |
| Kentucky | 197 | September | Aug–Sep |
| Illinois | 188 | August | Aug–Sep |
| West Virginia | 156 | September | Aug–Sep |
| Maryland | 147 | September | Aug–Sep |
| Tennessee | 124 | September | Sep–Sep |
| Arkansas | 116 | September | Aug–Sep |
| Missouri | 113 | September | Aug–Sep |
| New York | 72 | September | Sep–Sep |
| Mississippi | 46 | September | Sep–Oct |
| New Jersey | 46 | September | Aug–Sep |
| Georgia | 34 | September | Sep–Oct |
| Alabama | 30 | September | Sep–Oct |
| Iowa | 30 | August | Aug–Sep |
| District of Columbia | 28 | September | Sep–Sep |
| Oklahoma | 21 | September | Aug–Sep |
| Michigan | 20 | September | Aug–Sep |
| Kansas | 17 | September | Aug–Sep |
| Texas | 16 | September | Sep–Sep |
| Nebraska | 9 | August | Aug–Sep |
| Wisconsin | 9 | August | Aug–Sep |
| Delaware | 8 | September | Sep–Sep |
| South Carolina | 5 | August | Aug–Aug |
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 Wingstem?
Nationally, September has the most observations, with the main season from August to September.
Where is Wingstem most often seen?
The most observations come from Ohio, Pennsylvania, Virginia.