Bloomipedia
Bitterroot (Lewisia rediviva)
Photo: Matt Lavin via iNaturalist · CC BY 4.0 · resized

Flower profile

Bitterroot

Lewisia rediviva

★ Official state floral emblem of Montana (1895)Native in the lower 48

Bitterroot is a wildflower that USDA PLANTS lists as native in the lower 48 states. It's on our flower lists for 5 states, and across the U.S. it's most often seen in bloom in April–July.

10states
5of our state lists
7,521U.S. sightings*

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

On our lists for: Idaho, Montana, Nevada, Washington, Wyoming

🏅
Montana's official state floral emblem since 1895. Visit the Montana page → Mont. Code Ann. § 1-1-503

Quick look

Bitterroot is a small perennial herb in the family Montiaceae. Its specific epithet rediviva refers to its ability to regenerate from dry and seemingly dead roots.

  • It belongs to the Montiaceae 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 10 states. USDA PLANTS
  • NatureServe lists it as native to Washington, Montana, Nevada, Idaho and Wyoming. NatureServe
  • In Washington, most iNaturalist sightings of it in flower come in April–July. iNaturalist
  • In Montana, most iNaturalist sightings of it in flower come in May–July. iNaturalist
  • iNaturalist has 2,077 research-grade sightings of it in Washington, ranking #88 among the 110 flowers on our Washington list. iNaturalist
  • iNaturalist has 837 research-grade sightings of it in Montana, ranking #44 among the 109 flowers on our Montana list. iNaturalist
  • iNaturalist has 542 research-grade sightings of it in Nevada, ranking #74 among the 110 flowers on our Nevada list. iNaturalist

Bitterroot gift ideas

Handmade bitterroot gifts from independent makers.

🌱 Sample spot. Handmade gift picks from independent shops will appear here once our shop partnership is approved. These cards are placeholders, not real products.

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    Bitterroot art print

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    Bitterroot greeting card

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    Bitterroot mug

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    Bitterroot earrings

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    Bitterroot embroidery pattern

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    Bitterroot sticker

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When does it bloom?

Flowering records by month across the U.S. (iNaturalist research-grade observations marked “Flowering”) (1,189 records)
Bloom time in each of our 5 states
StateTypePeak bloomSightings*
WashingtonNativeApril–July2,077
MontanaNativeMay–July837
NevadaNativeApril–July542
IdahoNativeMay–June480
WyomingNativeMay–July362

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
Washington
No list Washington has no state law listing endangered or threatened plants (the Washington Natural Heritage Program's rare plant list isn't regulatory), so we show NatureServe's Washington ranks instead. NatureServe: SNR, not yet ranked in Washington.
Montana
No list Montana has no state law listing endangered or threatened plants, so we show NatureServe's Montana ranks instead. NatureServe: S4, apparently secure in Montana.
Nevada
Not listed Not on Nevada fully protected plants, critically endangered (NAC 527.010). NatureServe: SNR, not yet ranked in Nevada. NAC 527.010
Idaho
No list Idaho has no state law listing endangered or threatened plants, so we show NatureServe's Idaho ranks instead. NatureServe: SNR, not yet ranked in Idaho.
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
Other states where NatureServe ranks it rare or missing: AZ (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 bitterroot in 10 states.

recorded by USDA PLANTS on our state lists not recorded

See the full list of states

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

Washington counties with USDA records: Benton, Chelan, Douglas, Ferry, Grant, Kittitas, Klickitat, Lincoln, Okanogan, Spokane, Stevens, Whitman, Yakima.

Montana counties with USDA records: Beaverhead, Big Horn, Cascade, Flathead, Gallatin, Glacier, Golden Valley, Granite, Jefferson, Lake, Lewis and Clark, Madison, Missoula, Park, Phillips, Ravalli, Silver Bow, Stillwater, Sweet Grass, Teton, Yellowstone.

Nevada counties with USDA records: Carson City, Churchill, Douglas, Elko, Esmeralda, Humboldt, Lander, Lincoln, Lyon, Mineral, Nye, Storey, Washoe, White Pine.

More Washington flowers

Candy flower (Claytonia sibirica)

Candy flower

Claytonia sibirica

Native

🌼 Blooms in WA: March–July
Lanceleaf springbeauty (Claytonia lanceolata)

Lanceleaf springbeauty

Claytonia lanceolata

Native

🌼 Blooms: March–July
Salmonberry (Rubus spectabilis)

Salmonberry

Rubus spectabilis

Native

🌼 Blooms in WA: March–May

Sources