May's full moon

The Flower Moon

May's full moon — named for the abundance of spring flowers. The lore behind the name, what it looks like, and how to see it.

Short answer

The Flower Moon is May's full moon, named for the explosion of blooms across the Northern Hemisphere in late spring. Other traditions called it the Corn Planting Moon and the Milk Moon. It rides at a moderate height and signals the turn toward summer.

When is the Flower Moon?

May's full moon — the date shifts a little each year.See 2026 calendar

Why "Flower"?

By May, spring is in full force and flowers bloom everywhere across the temperate Northern Hemisphere — hence the Flower Moon, a name used by Algonquin peoples. Agricultural communities also called it the Corn Planting Moon and, in Europe, the Milk Moon or Hare Moon, for the season of new growth and grazing.

What it looks like

The May full moon rides at a moderate height — past the high winter moons, heading toward the low summer ones. It looks bright and clear, and is the last full moon before the lowest moons of the year around the summer solstice.