Yellow Fritillary (Fritillaria pudica) is in the lily family family (Liliaceae). Across the U.S., iNaturalist users have logged 2,512 research-grade flowering observations of it in our sample, peaking in April.
Nationally it blooms mainly from March to May, but timing varies a lot by state and elevation — see the table below.
When to photograph Yellow Fritillary: observations by month (U.S.)
About Yellow Fritillary
Fritillaria pudica (yellow fritillary) is a small perennial plant found in the sagebrush country in the western United States (Idaho, Montana, Oregon, Washington, Wyoming, very northern California, Nevada, northwestern Colorado, North Dakota and Utah) and Canada (Alberta and British Columbia). It is a member of the lily family, or Liliaceae. Another (somewhat ambiguous) name is "yellowbells", since it has a bell-shaped yellow flower. It may be found in dryish, loose soil; it is amongst the firstFrom Wikipedia via iNaturalist — article, CC BY-SA.
Yellow Fritillary by state
| State | Observations | Peak month | Main season |
|---|---|---|---|
| Washington | 779 | March | Mar–Apr |
| Oregon | 557 | March | Mar–Apr |
| Idaho | 401 | April | Apr–May |
| Montana | 337 | April | Apr–May |
| Wyoming | 199 | May | May–May |
| Utah | 178 | April | Mar–May |
| Nevada | 49 | April | Mar–Apr |
| Colorado | 12 | April | Apr–May |
Main season = months with at least 30% of the state's peak-month count.
Related wildflowers (lily family)
Yellow Trout Lily
Checker Lily
White Globe Lily
Leichtlin's Mariposa Lily
Yellow Mariposa Lily
White Fawnlily
Tolmie's pussy ears
Gunnison's Mariposa Lily
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 Yellow Fritillary?
Nationally, April has the most observations, with the main season from March to May.
Where is Yellow Fritillary most often seen?
The most observations come from Washington, Oregon, Idaho.