Flower profile

Bogbean

Menyanthes trifoliata

Bogbean (Menyanthes trifoliata) is a flowering plant in the Menyanthaceae family, native in the lower 48 states, blooming mostly May–June across the U.S.

Native to Alaska

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

37states where USDA records it

592AK sightings*

4,446U.S. sightings*

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

On our lists for: Alaska

Quick look

Menyanthes is a monotypic genus of flowering plants in the family Menyanthaceae containing the single species Menyanthes trifoliata. The North American form is often referred to as M. trifoliata var. minor Michx. It is known in English by the common names bogbean, marsh trefoil and buckbean.
From Wikipedia's article Menyanthes, CC BY-SA 4.0.

It belongs to the Menyanthaceae 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 37 states. ^{USDA PLANTS}
NatureServe lists it as native to Alaska. ^NatureServe
In Alaska, most iNaturalist sightings of it in flower come in May–June. ^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 0.8 ft. ^{USDA PLANTS}
iNaturalist has 592 research-grade sightings of it in Alaska, ranking #73 among the 121 flowers on our Alaska list. ^iNaturalist

When does it bloom?

In Alaska, most flowering sightings come in May–June.

Flowering records by month in Alaska (iNaturalist research-grade observations marked “Flowering”) (99 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
Alaska: No list Alaska has no state law listing endangered or threatened plants, so we show NatureServe's Alaska ranks instead. NatureServe: SNR, not yet ranked in Alaska.
Rare elsewhere: Other states where NatureServe ranks it rare or missing: AZ (S1), DE (SX), IA (S2), IL (S2), MD (S1), MO (S1), NC (S1), ND (S2), NE (S2), NJ (S2), NV (S2), OH (S1), RI (S2), SD (S1), UT (S2), VA (S1), WV (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 bogbean in 37 states.

AKMEVTNHWAIDMTNDMNILWIMINYRIMAORNVWYSDIAINOHPANJCTCAUTCONEMOKYWVVAMDDEAZNMKSARTNNCSCDCOKLAMSALGAHITXFL

recorded by USDA PLANTS on our state lists not recorded

See the full list of states

Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin, Wyoming.

Alaska counties with USDA records: Aleutians East, Anchorage, Bethel, Chugach, Copper River, Denali, Dillingham, Fairbanks North Star, Haines, Juneau, Kenai Peninsula, Kodiak Island, Lake and Peninsula, Matanuska-Susitna, Nome, North Slope, Northwest Arctic, Sitka, Southeast Fairbanks, Yakutat, Yukon-Koyukuk.

Growing conditions

USDA PLANTS gives Bogbean a medium shade tolerance, none drought tolerance and high moisture use. It is rated for soil pH 4.8 to 6.5 and winter lows down to -33 °F.

Shade tolerance: Medium
Drought tolerance: None
Moisture use: High
Soil textures it is adapted to: medium, fine
Soil pH range: 4.8 to 6.5
Minimum temperature tolerated: -33 °F
Frost-free days needed (minimum): 100
Annual precipitation range: 12 to 55 inches
Minimum root depth: 10 inches
Salinity tolerance: None
Fertility requirement: Medium
Growth rate: Moderate
Lifespan: Moderate
Active growth period: Spring and Summer
Fruit or seed: Brown · Spring to Summer
Can be propagated by: seed, sprigs
Commercial availability: Routinely Available

From the USDA PLANTS characteristics data for METR3. USDA ratings are general guidance for the species, not a guarantee for your garden.

Names, range and relatives

Native status by region (USDA PLANTS): Alaska: Native; Canada: Native; Greenland: Native; Lower 48 states: Native; St. Pierre and Miquelon: Native.

County records: USDA PLANTS lists it in 428 counties across 33 states; the most are in Michigan (60), Wisconsin (48), Minnesota (43).

More from the Menyanthaceae family (1 on Bloomipedia; most observed first): Deer-cabbage.

More Alaska flowers

Deer-cabbage

Nephrophyllidium crista-galli

Native

🌼 Few flowering records in AK

Fireweed

Chamaenerion angustifolium

Native

🌼 Blooms in AK: July–August

Common cowparsnip

Heracleum maximum

Native

🌼 Blooms in AK: June–July

Sources

USDA, NRCS. PLANTS Database, profile METR3.
iNaturalist, Menyanthes trifoliata: taxonomy, research-grade observation counts and “Flowering” annotations, retrieved October 17, 2026.
Wikipedia, Menyanthes (lead quoted under CC BY-SA 4.0).
Alaska: Alaska prohibited and restricted noxious weeds (11 AAC 34.020).
USFWS, ECOS species database (ESA listing check), October 17, 2026.
NatureServe Explorer, Menyanthes trifoliata (global and state ranks).
Edibility and toxicity: no source found (marked "not well documented").
Photo: Matt Muir via iNaturalist · CC BY 4.0 · resized.