Yellow Star-Thistle (Centaurea solstitialis) is in the Sunflowers, Daisies, Asters, and Allies family (Asteraceae). Across the U.S., iNaturalist users have logged 1,126 research-grade flowering observations of it in our sample, peaking in July.
Nationally it blooms mainly from June to October, but timing varies a lot by state and elevation — see the table below.
When to photograph Yellow Star-Thistle: observations by month (U.S.)
About Yellow Star-Thistle
Centaurea solstitialis, yellow star-thistle, is a member of the family Asteraceae, native to the Mediterranean Basin region. The plant is also known as golden starthistle, yellow cockspur and St. Barnaby's thistle (or Barnaby thistle) The plant is a thorny winter annual species in the knapweed genus.From Wikipedia via iNaturalist — article, CC BY-SA.
Yellow Star-Thistle by state
| State | Observations | Peak month | Main season |
|---|---|---|---|
| California | 1,049 | July | Jun–Oct |
| Oregon | 35 | July | Jul–Oct |
| Washington | 29 | July | Jul–Oct |
| Utah | 5 | September | Sep–Sep |
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 Yellow Star-Thistle?
Nationally, July has the most observations, with the main season from June to October.
Where is Yellow Star-Thistle most often seen?
The most observations come from California, Oregon, Washington.