Yellow Star Grass (Hypoxis hirsuta) is in the Stargrasses and allies family (Hypoxidaceae). Across the U.S., iNaturalist users have logged 2,521 research-grade flowering observations of it in our sample, peaking in May.
Nationally it blooms mainly from April to June, but timing varies a lot by state and elevation — see the table below.
When to photograph Yellow Star Grass: observations by month (U.S.)
About Yellow Star Grass
Hypoxis hirsuta (common goldstar, common star-grass, eastern yellow stargrass, yellow star grass) is an ornamental plant in the Hypoxidaceae family. Sometimes this plant is placed in the Amaryllidaceae family or the Liliaceae family. The species is native to the United States, Canada, and the State of Tamaulipas in northeastern Mexico.From Wikipedia via iNaturalist — article, CC BY-SA.
Yellow Star Grass by state
| State | Observations | Peak month | Main season |
|---|---|---|---|
| Massachusetts | 298 | May | May–Jun |
| North Carolina | 284 | April | Apr–Jun |
| Kentucky | 176 | April | Apr–May |
| Connecticut | 165 | May | May–Jun |
| Tennessee | 162 | April | Apr–Apr |
| Virginia | 161 | May | Apr–Jun |
| Pennsylvania | 138 | May | May–Jul |
| Alabama | 133 | April | Mar–May |
| Illinois | 123 | May | May–May |
| New York | 112 | May | May–Jul |
| Wisconsin | 104 | May | May–May |
| Minnesota | 78 | May | May–Jun |
| Georgia | 71 | April | Apr–Jul |
| Maryland | 68 | May | May–Jun |
| Missouri | 65 | April | Apr–May |
| New Jersey | 63 | May | May–Jun |
| Texas | 44 | March | Mar–Mar |
| Arkansas | 43 | April | Mar–May |
| Rhode Island | 41 | June | May–Jun |
| Ohio | 36 | May | Apr–May |
| West Virginia | 32 | June | May–Jun |
| Mississippi | 31 | April | Mar–Apr |
| South Carolina | 26 | April | Apr–Jun |
| Indiana | 14 | May | Apr–May |
| Iowa | 10 | May | May–Jun |
| Louisiana | 8 | March | Mar–Jul |
| South Dakota | 8 | June | May–Jun |
| Oklahoma | 6 | April | Apr–May |
| Michigan | 5 | May | May–Jun |
| North Dakota | 5 | June | Jun–Jun |
Main season = months with at least 30% of the state's peak-month count.
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 Star Grass?
Nationally, May has the most observations, with the main season from April to June.
Where is Yellow Star Grass most often seen?
The most observations come from Massachusetts, North Carolina, Kentucky.