Bloomipedia
American bistort (Bistorta bistortoides)
Photo: CaracalShan via iNaturalist · CC BY 4.0 · resized

Flower profile

American bistort

Bistorta bistortoides

American bistort (Bistorta bistortoides) is a flowering plant in the Polygonaceae family, native in the lower 48 states, blooming mostly June–August across the U.S.

Native in the lower 48

American bistort is a wildflower that USDA PLANTS lists as native in the lower 48 states. It's on our flower lists for 2 states, and across the U.S. it's most often seen in bloom in June–August.

11states where USDA records it
2Bloomipedia state lists include it
10,246U.S. sightings*

*iNaturalist research-grade observations, as of October 17, 2026.

On our lists for: Colorado, Wyoming

Quick look

Bistorta bistortoides, commonly called western bistort, is a perennial herb in the buckwheat family. It grows mainly in the western United States, but also extends into small areas of southern Canada and northern Mexico. It is an edible plant that is part of the traditional diet of native peoples.

  • It belongs to the Polygonaceae family. iNaturalist
  • USDA PLANTS describes it as an herb (forb) with a perennial life cycle. USDA PLANTS
  • USDA PLANTS lists it as native in the lower 48 states and records it in 11 states. USDA PLANTS
  • NatureServe lists it as native to Colorado and Wyoming. NatureServe
  • In Colorado, most iNaturalist sightings of it in flower come in June–August. iNaturalist
  • USDA PLANTS lists its flower color as white. USDA PLANTS
  • USDA PLANTS gives its bloom period as mid spring. USDA PLANTS
  • USDA PLANTS lists a mature height of about 1.5 ft. USDA PLANTS
  • iNaturalist has 3,273 research-grade sightings of it in Colorado, ranking #42 among the 160 flowers on our Colorado list. iNaturalist
  • iNaturalist has 722 research-grade sightings of it in Wyoming, ranking #29 among the 113 flowers on our Wyoming list. iNaturalist

When does it bloom?

Flowering records by month across the U.S. (iNaturalist research-grade observations marked “Flowering”) (1,094 records)
Bloom time in the 2 states whose Bloomipedia list includes it
StateTypePeak bloomSightings*
ColoradoNativeJune–August3,273
WyomingNativefew records (35)722

Conservation status

Federal (U.S. ESA)
Not listed No U.S. Endangered Species Act listing in the USFWS ECOS database. USFWS ECOS
NatureServe global
G5 Secure worldwide. NatureServe
Colorado
No list Colorado has no state law listing endangered or threatened plants, so we show NatureServe's Colorado ranks instead. NatureServe: S4, apparently secure in Colorado.
Wyoming
No list Wyoming has no state law listing endangered or threatened plants, so we show NatureServe's Wyoming ranks instead. NatureServe: S4, apparently secure in Wyoming.
Rare elsewhere
No other U.S. state ranks it S1, S2, SH or SX.

Checked October 17, 2026. Rankings and lists can change, so follow the links for the latest.

Can you eat it?

For peopleNot well documented

None of the sources we checked (NC State Extension (no page for this plant), USDA PLANTS) say whether it's edible or poisonous for people.

For petsNot well documented

It isn't on the ASPCA plant list.

🌿 Never eat a wild plant unless you're certain of its ID; this isn't medical advice. Worried about a person? Call Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222. Worried about a pet? Call your vet.

Where does it grow?

USDA PLANTS records American bistort in 11 states.

recorded by USDA PLANTS on our state lists not recorded

See the full list of states

Arizona, California, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Utah, Washington, Wyoming.

Colorado counties with USDA records: Archuleta, Boulder, Chaffee, Clear Creek, Conejos, Custer, Delta, Dolores, Eagle, El Paso, Garfield, Gilpin, Grand, Gunnison, Hinsdale, Huerfano, Jackson, La Plata, Lake, Larimer, Las Animas, Mesa, Mineral, Moffat, Montezuma, Montrose, Ouray, Park, Pitkin, Rio Grande, Routt, Saguache, San Juan, Summit, Teller.

Wyoming counties with USDA records: Albany, Big Horn, Carbon, Converse, Fremont, Hot Springs, Johnson, Laramie, Lincoln, Natrona, Park, Sheridan, Sublette, Sweetwater, Teton, Washakie.

Growing conditions

USDA PLANTS gives American bistort a high shade tolerance, none drought tolerance and high moisture use. It is rated for soil pH 6.5 to 8.0 and winter lows down to -38 °F.

Shade tolerance
High
Drought tolerance
None
Moisture use
High
Soil textures it is adapted to
coarse, medium
Soil pH range
6.5 to 8.0
Minimum temperature tolerated
-38 °F
Frost-free days needed (minimum)
80
Annual precipitation range
10 to 30 inches
Minimum root depth
16 inches
Salinity tolerance
None
Fertility requirement
Medium
Growth rate
Moderate
Lifespan
Moderate
Active growth period
Spring and Summer
Fruit or seed
Brown · Summer to Summer
Can be propagated by
seed, sprigs
Commercial availability
No Known Source

From the USDA PLANTS characteristics data for POBI6. USDA ratings are general guidance for the species, not a guarantee for your garden.

Names, range and relatives

Native status by region (USDA PLANTS): Canada: Native; Lower 48 states: Native.

Other scientific names (synonyms in USDA PLANTS): Persicaria bistortoides, Polygonum cephalophorum, Polygonum glastifolium, Polygonum vulcanicum.

County records: USDA PLANTS lists it in 237 counties across 11 states; the most are in Colorado (35), California (32), Oregon (31).

Other Bistorta on Bloomipedia (2): Alpine bistort, Meadow bistort.

More from the Polygonaceae family (21 on Bloomipedia; most observed first): California buckwheat, American jumpseed, Low smartweed, Japanese knotweed, Sulfur buckwheat, Mile-a-minute weed, Water smartweed, Desert trumpet.

More Colorado flowers

Sulfur buckwheat (Eriogonum umbellatum)

Sulfur buckwheat

Eriogonum umbellatum

Native

🌼 Blooms in CO: June–July
Great mullein (Verbascum thapsus)

Great mullein

Verbascum thapsus

Introduced

🌼 Blooms in CO: July–October
Blue columbine (Aquilegia coerulea)

Blue columbine

Aquilegia coerulea

★ CO state flowerNative

🌼 Blooms in CO: June–August

Sources