Watch the Full Flower Moon Bloom!
The full Flower Moon reaches its peak on Monday, March 12. Did you watch Martin Scorsese’s ‘Killers of the Flower Moon’? Find out the meaning of the Flower Moon, the Full Moon of May.
When to See the Full Moon in May 2025
May’s full Flower Moon reaches peak illumination at 12:56 P.M. (EDT) on Monday, May 12.
Find a location with unobstructed views of the horizon, if possible. See what time the moon will be visible in your area with our Moonrise and Moonset Calculator.
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Why Is It Called the Flower Moon?
The full moon names used by The Old Farmer’s Almanac come from many places, including Native American, Colonial American, and European sources. Traditionally, each full Moon name was applied to the entire lunar month in which it occurred, not solely to the full Moon.
The Flower Moon
May’s Flower Moon name should be no surprise; flowers spring forth across North America in abundance this month!
- “Flower Moon” has been attributed to Algonquin peoples, as confirmed by Christina Ruddy of The Algonquin Way Cultural Centre in Pikwakanagan, Ontario.
- May’s Moon was also called the “Month of Flowers” by Jonathan Carver in his 1798 publication, Travels Through the Interior Parts of North America: 1766, 1767, 1768 (pp. 250-252), as a likely Dakota name. Carver stayed with the Naudowessie (Dakota) over a period of time; his expedition covered the Great Lakes region, including the Wisconsin and Minnesota areas.
- Henry David Thoreau sparked the Native American Moon names as well, referencing the Flower Moon and Carver when he wrote about Native Americans.
Alternative May Moon Names
May’s Moon names tend to speak to the arrival of spring and all that it entails!
The Cree names Budding Moon and Leaf Budding Moon celebrate the awakening of local flora, which really begins to leaf out now in many areas. Similarly, Planting Moon (Dakota, Lakota) marks the time when seeds should be started for the farming season ahead.
The activities of animals marked spring’s arrival, too, which is highlighted by the Cree names Egg Laying Moon and Frog Moon, as well as the Oglala term Moon of the Shedding Ponies. All three names indicate that warmer weather is on the way!
→ See all 12 months of full Moon names and meanings.
Moon Phases for May 2025
All dates and times are EDT. See our Moon Phase Calendar for times in your location.
.png){kind=small} | First Quarter: May 4, 9:52 A.M. EDT |
.png){kind=small} | Full Moon: May 12, 12:56 P.M. EDT |
.png){kind=small} | Last Quarter: May 20, 7:59 A.M. EDT |
.png){kind=small} | New Moon: May 26, 11:02 P.M. EDT |
→ When is the next full Moon? Find out in our Full Moon Dates chart.
Full Flower Moon Video
Each month, we will explain the traditional names of the full Moon along with some Moon facts. Click below to watch the video and learn about May’s Full Flower Moon.
Best Days in May 2025
Below are the best days for activities, based on the Moon’s sign and phase in May.
For Gardening:
- Planting aboveground crops: 1, 2, 29, 30
- Planting belowground crops: 20, 21
For Setting Eggs:
- 8, 9, 17, 18
For Fishing:
- 1-12, 26-31
→ See the Best Days for more activities.
Full Moon Folklore
- Clothes washed for the first time in the Full Moon will not last long.
- The Full Moon is an ideal time to accept a proposal of marriage.
Share your thoughts about the May Moon below!
Catherine Boeckmann
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The time of day listed is the point in time when the Moon will be at its fullest according to the lunar cycle. Of course, in this case it will still look like a full Moon the night before and the night after.
So exactly when will this full moon be rising over Lake Michigan herebin Milwaukee WI today?? I’ve never yet been given the correct time, and Ive missed a couple moonrises because of that. Thanks!!
Cool
When is the best ime to plant flowers during the Full Flower Moon period?
Sorry for getting back to you so late, Denis.
Click on this page for more information about planting by the Moon in your area: http://www.almanac.com/content/planting-moons-phase-gardening-calendar
Parasites greatly multiply during full moon also. Cut down or omit on sugar during at that time.
Why does women go crazy on a full or new moon?
Because women are more sensitive to the vibrations emitted by all the planets, and when the moon goes to full, it's like the universe has turned on a gigantic light bulb. It is, however, a great time to ask for whatever you want to manifest in your life. Just face the Old Man in the Moon, and ask. I've done it. It works! Because, we all know God is there...
The greatest lesson that I have learned so far is that every single human is at one time or another, crazy. Like my brother who is 33 and still getting arrested for trespassing, drinks tons of pop and smokes too many cigarettes.
I am getting married on May 21st, 2016. Full moon - Full Flower moon- lots of abundance to bring forth, a time to be creative and bring forth our new life <3
