Bloomipedia
Bogbean (Menyanthes trifoliata)
Photo: Matt Muir via iNaturalist · CC BY 4.0 · resized

Flower profile

Bogbean

Menyanthes trifoliata

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–July.

37states
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.

  • 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–July. 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 108 flowers on our Alaska list. iNaturalist

Bogbean gift ideas

Handmade bogbean gifts from independent makers.

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When does it bloom?

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

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.

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.

More Alaska flowers

Deer-cabbage (Nephrophyllidium crista-galli)

Deer-cabbage

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Fireweed (Chamaenerion angustifolium)

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🌼 Blooms in AK: June–August
Common cowparsnip (Heracleum maximum)

Common cowparsnip

Heracleum maximum

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🌼 Blooms in AK: June–August

Sources