Bloomipedia
Canadian lousewort (Pedicularis canadensis)
Photo: Seig via iNaturalist · CC BY 4.0 · resized

Flower profile

Canadian lousewort

Pedicularis canadensis

Canadian lousewort (Pedicularis canadensis) is a low shrub in the Orobanchaceae family, native in the lower 48 states, blooming mostly April–May across the U.S.

Native in the lower 48

Canadian lousewort is a wildflower that USDA PLANTS lists as native in the lower 48 states. It's on our flower lists for 10 states, and across the U.S. it's most often seen in bloom in April–May.

39states where USDA records it
10Bloomipedia state lists include it
21,588U.S. sightings*

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

On our lists for: Arkansas, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Missouri, North Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia, Wisconsin

Quick look

Pedicularis canadensis, commonly called Canadian lousewort or wood betony, is a flowering plant in the family Orobanchaceae. It is native to North America, where it is found in southeastern Canada, the eastern United States, and eastern Mexico. It has a wide-ranging natural habitat, being found in mesic to dry, forests, woodlands, and prairies.

  • It belongs to the Orobanchaceae 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 39 states. USDA PLANTS
  • In Illinois, most iNaturalist sightings of it in flower come in April–May. iNaturalist
  • In North Carolina, most iNaturalist sightings of it in flower come in April–May. iNaturalist
  • USDA PLANTS lists its flower color as yellow. USDA PLANTS
  • USDA PLANTS gives its bloom period as late spring. USDA PLANTS
  • USDA PLANTS lists a mature height of about 1.3 ft. USDA PLANTS
  • iNaturalist has 2,741 research-grade sightings of it in Illinois, ranking #58 among the 180 flowers on our Illinois list. iNaturalist
  • iNaturalist has 2,168 research-grade sightings of it in North Carolina, ranking #82 among the 192 flowers on our North Carolina list. iNaturalist
  • iNaturalist has 2,135 research-grade sightings of it in Wisconsin, ranking #66 among the 161 flowers on our Wisconsin list. iNaturalist

When does it bloom?

Flowering records by month across the U.S. (iNaturalist research-grade observations marked “Flowering”) (2,483 records)
Bloom time in the 10 states whose Bloomipedia list includes it
StateTypePeak bloomSightings*
IllinoisNativeApril–May2,741
North CarolinaNativeApril–May2,168
WisconsinNativeMay–June2,135
VirginiaNativeApril–May1,810
TennesseeNativeApril1,238
MissouriNativeApril–May945
ArkansasNativeMarch–April838
IndianaNativeApril–May795
West VirginiaNativefew records (38)357
IowaNativefew records (18)268

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
State rare plant lists
Not listed Not on the official rare plant list in 7 of our 10 states.
See each state
Illinois
Not listed Not on Illinois List of Endangered and Threatened Flora (17 Ill. Adm. Code 1050), per the Endangered Species Protection Board's 2025 checklist. NatureServe: SNR, not yet ranked in Illinois. IL E&T checklist 2025
North Carolina
Not listed Not on North Carolina Protected Plant Species List (02 NCAC 48F .0301). NatureServe: S5, secure in North Carolina. 02 NCAC 48F .0301
Wisconsin
Not listed Not on Wisconsin endangered and threatened species list (Wis. Admin. Code NR 27.03). NatureServe: SNR, not yet ranked in Wisconsin. NR 27.03
Virginia
Not listed Not on Virginia endangered and threatened plant and insect species (2VAC5-320-10). NatureServe: S5, secure in Virginia. 2VAC5-320-10
Tennessee
Not listed Not on Tennessee endangered plants (Tenn. Comp. R. & Regs. 0400-06-02-.04, Rare Plant Protection and Conservation Act). NatureServe: SNR, not yet ranked in Tennessee. TN rule 0400-06-02-.04
Missouri
Not listed Not on Missouri Wildlife Code endangered species (3 CSR 10-4.111), plants. NatureServe: SNR, not yet ranked in Missouri. 3 CSR 10-4.111
Iowa
Not listed Not on Iowa endangered, threatened and special concern plants (Iowa Admin. Code r. 571-77.3). NatureServe: S4, apparently secure in Iowa. IAC 571-77.3
Arkansas
No list Arkansas has no state law listing endangered or threatened plants, so we show NatureServe's Arkansas ranks instead. NatureServe: SNR, not yet ranked in Arkansas.
Indiana
No list Indiana has no state law listing endangered or threatened plants (the DNR keeps a rare plant list, but it isn't regulatory), so we show NatureServe's Indiana ranks instead. NatureServe: SNR, not yet ranked in Indiana.
West Virginia
No list West Virginia has no state law listing endangered or threatened plants (only federally listed species are protected), so we show NatureServe's West Virginia ranks instead. NatureServe: S5, secure in West Virginia.
Rare elsewhere
Other states where NatureServe ranks it rare or missing: DE (S2), NE (S1), RI (S2). (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 edibility or poison notes on its page), USDA PLANTS) say whether it's edible or poisonous for people. NC State Extension

For petsNot well documented

It isn't on the ASPCA plant list, and NC State Extension doesn't flag it for pets.

🌿 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 canadian lousewort in 39 states plus Washington, D.C.

recorded by USDA PLANTS on our state lists not recorded

See the full list of states

Alabama, Arkansas, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, 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; District of Columbia.

Illinois counties with USDA records: Adams, Brown, Calhoun, Cass, Champaign, Clark, Coles, Cook, Crawford, DeKalb, DuPage, Effingham, Gallatin, Greene, Grundy, Hancock, Hardin, Henderson, Henry, Iroquois, Jackson, Jersey, Jo Daviess, Johnson, Kane, Kankakee, Kendall, Knox, LaSalle, Lake, Lee, Livingston, Macon, Macoupin, Marshall, Mason, McDonough, McHenry, McLean, Menard, Monroe, Morgan, Ogle, Peoria, Piatt, Pike, Pope, Randolph, Rock Island, Sangamon, Scott, St. Clair, Stark, Stephenson, Tazewell, Vermilion, Wabash, Washington, Will, Winnebago.

North Carolina counties with USDA records: Alleghany, Anson, Ashe, Avery, Buncombe, Burke, Cabarrus, Chatham, Cherokee, Clay, Columbus, Davidson, Davie, Durham, Forsyth, Franklin, Graham, Granville, Guilford, Harnett, Haywood, Henderson, Jackson, Johnston, Jones, Lincoln, Macon, Madison, McDowell, Mecklenburg, Mitchell, Montgomery, Onslow, Orange, Pender, Polk, Randolph, Richmond, Rockingham, Rowan, Stanly, Stokes, Swain, Transylvania, Union, Wake, Watauga, Yancey.

Wisconsin counties with USDA records: Adams, Barron, Bayfield, Brown, Buffalo, Burnett, Calumet, Chippewa, Columbia, Crawford, Dane, Dodge, Door, Douglas, Dunn, Eau Claire, Florence, Fond du Lac, Forest, Grant, Green, Green Lake, Iowa, Iron, Jackson, Jefferson, Kenosha, Kewaunee, La Crosse, Lafayette, Langlade, Lincoln, Manitowoc, Marinette, Marquette, Menominee, Milwaukee, Monroe, Oconto, Oneida, Outagamie, Ozaukee, Pepin, Pierce, Polk, Portage, Racine, Richland, Rock, Sauk, Sawyer, Sheboygan, St. Croix, Trempealeau, Vernon, Vilas, Walworth, Washburn, Washington, Waukesha, Waupaca, Waushara, Wood.

Growing conditions

USDA PLANTS gives Canadian lousewort a low shade tolerance, low drought tolerance and medium moisture use. It is rated for soil pH 4.0 to 7.0 and winter lows down to -43 °F.

Shade tolerance
Low
Drought tolerance
Low
Moisture use
Medium
Soil textures it is adapted to
medium, fine
Soil pH range
4.0 to 7.0
Minimum temperature tolerated
-43 °F
Frost-free days needed (minimum)
120
Annual precipitation range
34 to 60 inches
Minimum root depth
6 inches
Salinity tolerance
None
Fertility requirement
Medium
Growth rate
Moderate
Lifespan
Moderate
Active growth period
Spring and Summer
Fruit or seed
Black · Summer to Summer
Can be propagated by
bare root, seed
Commercial availability
No Known Source

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

Names, range and relatives

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

County records: USDA PLANTS lists it in 1133 counties across 38 states; the most are in Missouri (94), Minnesota (70), Michigan (67).

Other Pedicularis on Bloomipedia (8): Warrior's plume, Elephant's-Head lousewort, Sickletop lousewort, Bracted lousewort, Dwarf lousewort, Whorled lousewort, Labrador lousewort, Woolly lousewort.

More from the Orobanchaceae family (24 on Bloomipedia; most observed first): Texas paintbrush, Purple owl's-clover, Felt paintbrush, Giant red paintbrush, Narrowleaf cow wheat, Desert paintbrush, Wholeleaf paintbrush, Florida bluehearts.

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Sources