Yellow Iris (Iris pseudacorus) is in the iris family family (Iridaceae). Across the U.S., iNaturalist users have logged 2,240 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 Yellow Iris: observations by month (U.S.)
About Yellow Iris
Iris pseudacorus, the yellow flag, yellow iris, or water flag, is a species of flowering plant in the family Iridaceae. It is native to Europe, western Asia and northwest Africa. Its specific epithet pseudacorus means "false acorus", referring to the similarity of its leaves to those of Acorus calamus (sweet flag), as they have a prominently veined mid-rib and sword-like shape. However, the two plants are not closely related.From Wikipedia via iNaturalist — article, CC BY-SA.
Yellow Iris by state
| State | Observations | Peak month | Main season |
|---|---|---|---|
| Maryland | 289 | May | May–May |
| Washington | 270 | May | May–Jun |
| New York | 187 | May | May–Jun |
| Vermont | 145 | June | Jun–Jun |
| Pennsylvania | 144 | May | May–Jun |
| Massachusetts | 117 | June | May–Jun |
| Minnesota | 114 | June | Jun–Jun |
| Oregon | 111 | May | May–Jun |
| New Jersey | 94 | May | May–May |
| Illinois | 83 | May | May–Jun |
| Ohio | 82 | May | May–May |
| Virginia | 69 | May | Apr–May |
| North Carolina | 53 | May | Apr–Jun |
| Michigan | 50 | June | May–Jun |
| District of Columbia | 34 | May | May–May |
| Wisconsin | 31 | June | Jun–Jun |
| Mississippi | 30 | April | Mar–Apr |
| Connecticut | 26 | May | May–Jun |
| New Hampshire | 25 | June | Jun–Jul |
| Alabama | 23 | April | Apr–Apr |
| Indiana | 23 | May | May–May |
| Tennessee | 22 | April | Apr–May |
| Idaho | 20 | May | May–Jun |
| Maine | 20 | June | Jun–Jun |
| West Virginia | 20 | May | May–Jun |
| Delaware | 18 | May | May–May |
| New Mexico | 18 | April | Apr–May |
| Arkansas | 15 | April | Apr–May |
| Colorado | 15 | May | May–Jun |
| Louisiana | 14 | April | Mar–Apr |
| Georgia | 13 | April | Apr–Apr |
| Rhode Island | 9 | June | May–Jun |
| Utah | 9 | May | May–May |
| Kentucky | 8 | May | May–May |
| Florida | 7 | April | Apr–Apr |
| Montana | 7 | June | Jun–Jun |
| Alaska | 6 | July | Jun–Jul |
| South Carolina | 5 | April | Apr–Apr |
Main season = months with at least 30% of the state's peak-month count.
Related wildflowers (iris family)
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 Iris?
Nationally, May has the most observations, with the main season from May to June.
Where is Yellow Iris most often seen?
The most observations come from Maryland, Washington, New York.