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.
Frequently asked questions
Why is it called the Flower Moon?
Because May is when flowers bloom in abundance across the temperate Northern Hemisphere — a name recorded among Algonquin peoples.
Is the Flower Moon a supermoon?
Sometimes. It depends on the year — a Flower Moon is a supermoon only when May's full moon falls near the Moon's closest approach to Earth.