Bloomipedia
Brenda's yellow cryptantha (Oreocarya flava)
Photo: Michael J. Papay via iNaturalist · CC BY 4.0 · resized

Flower profile

Brenda's yellow cryptantha

Oreocarya flava

Brenda's yellow cryptantha (Oreocarya flava) is a low shrub in the Boraginaceae family, native in the lower 48 states, blooming mostly April–June across the U.S.

Native to Utah

Brenda's yellow cryptantha is a wildflower that USDA PLANTS lists as native in the lower 48 states. In Utah it's most often seen in bloom in April–June.

5states where USDA records it
587UT sightings*
889U.S. sightings*

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

On our lists for: Utah

Quick look

  • It belongs to the Boraginaceae family. iNaturalist
  • USDA PLANTS describes it as an herb (forb) / a subshrub with a perennial life cycle. USDA PLANTS
  • USDA PLANTS lists it as native in the lower 48 states and records it in 5 states. USDA PLANTS
  • NatureServe lists it as native to Utah. NatureServe
  • In Utah, most iNaturalist sightings of it in flower come in April–June. iNaturalist
  • iNaturalist has 587 research-grade sightings of it in Utah, ranking #102 among the 153 flowers on our Utah list. iNaturalist

When does it bloom?

In Utah, most flowering sightings come in April–June.

Flowering records by month in Utah (iNaturalist research-grade observations marked “Flowering”) (73 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
G4 Apparently secure worldwide. NatureServe
Utah
No list Utah has no state law listing endangered or threatened plants, so we show NatureServe's Utah ranks instead. NatureServe: SNR, not yet ranked in Utah.
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 brenda's yellow cryptantha in 5 states.

recorded by USDA PLANTS on our state lists not recorded

See the full list of states

Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico, Utah, Wyoming.

Utah counties with USDA records: Carbon, Daggett, Duchesne, Emery, Garfield, Grand, Kane, Millard, San Juan, Sevier, Uintah, Washington, Wayne.

Names, range and relatives

County records: USDA PLANTS lists it in 33 counties across 5 states; the most are in Utah (13), Colorado (6), New Mexico (6).

Other Oreocarya on Bloomipedia (2): Miner's candle, Cockscomb oreocarya.

More from the Boraginaceae family (42 on Bloomipedia; most observed first): Virginia bluebells, Virginia waterleaf, Pacific hound's tongue, Distant phacelia, Alkali heliotrope, Virginia stickseed, Wild comfrey, Menzies' baby blue eyes.

More Utah flowers

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Opuntia polyacantha

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Sources