Flower profile

Aniseroot

Osmorhiza longistylis

Aniseroot (Osmorhiza longistylis) is a flowering plant in the Apiaceae family, native in the lower 48 states, blooming mostly April–May across the U.S.

Native to Virginia

Aniseroot is a wildflower that USDA PLANTS lists as native in the lower 48 states. In Virginia it's most often seen in bloom in April–May.

39states where USDA records it

1,675VA sightings*

11,038U.S. sightings*

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

On our lists for: Virginia

Quick look

Osmorhiza longistylis, commonly called long-styled sweet-cicely or longstyle sweetroot, is an herbaceous plant in the family Apiaceae. It is native to North America, where it is found from the Rocky Mountains east to the Atlantic Coast, in Canada and the United States. Its natural habitat is in forests with fertile soil, often in areas of loam and dappled sunlight.
From Wikipedia's article Osmorhiza longistylis, CC BY-SA 4.0.

It belongs to the Apiaceae 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 39 states. ^{USDA PLANTS}
NatureServe lists it as native to Virginia. ^NatureServe
In Virginia, most iNaturalist sightings of it in flower come in April–May. ^iNaturalist
iNaturalist has 1,675 research-grade sightings of it in Virginia, ranking #101 among the 189 flowers on our Virginia list. ^iNaturalist

When does it bloom?

In Virginia, most flowering sightings come in April–May.

Flowering records by month in Virginia (iNaturalist research-grade observations marked “Flowering”) (110 records)

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
Virginia: Not listed Not on Virginia endangered and threatened plant and insect species (2VAC5-320-10). NatureServe: S5, secure in Virginia. ^2VAC5-320-10
Rare elsewhere: Other states where NatureServe ranks it rare or missing: RI (S1). (S1 critically imperiled, S2 imperiled, SH possibly extirpated, SX presumed extirpated.)

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 aniseroot in 39 states plus Washington, D.C.

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recorded by USDA PLANTS on our state lists not recorded

See the full list of states

Alabama, Arkansas, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia, Wisconsin, Wyoming; District of Columbia.

Virginia counties with USDA records: Albemarle, Amherst, Appomattox, Arlington, Augusta, Bath, Bedford, Bland, Botetourt, Brunswick, Buckingham, Campbell, Carroll, Charles City, Chesterfield, Clarke, Craig, Culpeper, Fairfax, Fauquier, Floyd, Franklin, Frederick, Giles, Greene, Halifax, Henrico, Henry, Highland, James City, King George, Lee, Loudoun, Lunenburg, Madison, Mecklenburg, Montgomery, Nelson, Orange, Page, Patrick, Pittsylvania, Prince George, Prince William, Pulaski, Rappahannock, Roanoke, Rockbridge, Rockingham, Russell, Shenandoah, Smyth, Spotsylvania, Stafford, Surry, Tazewell, Warren, Washington, Westmoreland, Wise, York.

Names, range and relatives

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

Other scientific names (synonyms in USDA PLANTS): Washingtonia longistylis.

County records: USDA PLANTS lists it in 979 counties across 38 states; the most are in Illinois (80), Ohio (72), Missouri (68).

More from the Apiaceae family (16 on Bloomipedia; most observed first): Queen Anne's lace (wild carrot), Common cowparsnip, Poison hemlock, Common hedge parsley, Fennel, Rattlesnake master, Golden alexanders, Goutweed.

More Virginia flowers

Queen Anne's lace (wild carrot)

Daucus carota

Introduced

🌼 Blooms in VA: June–August

American pokeweed

Phytolacca americana

Native

🌼 Blooms in VA: June–September

Mayapple

Podophyllum peltatum

Native

🌼 Blooms in VA: April–May

Sources

USDA, NRCS. PLANTS Database, profile OSLO.
iNaturalist, Osmorhiza longistylis: taxonomy, research-grade observation counts and “Flowering” annotations, retrieved October 17, 2026.
Wikipedia, Osmorhiza longistylis (lead quoted under CC BY-SA 4.0).
Virginia: Virginia endangered and threatened plant and insect species (2VAC5-320-10).
Virginia: Virginia noxious weeds (2VAC5-317-20, Tier 1, 2 and 3).
USFWS, ECOS species database (ESA listing check), October 17, 2026.
NatureServe Explorer, Osmorhiza longistylis (global and state ranks).
Edibility and toxicity: no source found (marked "not well documented").
Photo: Kathy Richardson via iNaturalist · CC BY 4.0 · resized.