Bloomipedia
Candyroot (Senega nana)
Photo: Daniel Estabrooks via iNaturalist · CC0 · resized

Flower profile

Candyroot

Senega nana

Candyroot is a flowering plant. It's on our flower lists for 2 states, and across the U.S. it's most often seen in bloom in March–June.

–states
2of our state lists
5,257U.S. sightings*

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

On our lists for: Florida, Mississippi

Quick look

Senega nana, commonly known as candyroot or low bachelors' buttons, is a small species of herbaceous plant native to the south-eastern United States. The root has a sweet liquorice flavor when it is chewed, but it is usually hidden underground until the plant flowers. The seeds of candyroot are dispersed by ants.

  • It belongs to the Polygalaceae family. iNaturalist
  • NatureServe lists it as native to Florida and Mississippi. NatureServe
  • In Florida, most iNaturalist sightings of it in flower come in January–May. iNaturalist
  • In Mississippi, most iNaturalist sightings of it in flower come in March–May. iNaturalist
  • iNaturalist has 3,475 research-grade sightings of it in Florida, ranking #82 among the 110 flowers on our Florida list. iNaturalist
  • iNaturalist has 570 research-grade sightings of it in Mississippi, ranking #20 among the 110 flowers on our Mississippi list. iNaturalist

Candyroot gift ideas

Handmade candyroot 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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    Candyroot art print

    Gift pick coming soon

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    Candyroot greeting card

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    Candyroot mug

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    Candyroot earrings

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    Candyroot embroidery pattern

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    Candyroot sticker

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When does it bloom?

Flowering records by month across the U.S. (iNaturalist research-grade observations marked “Flowering”) (898 records)
Bloom time in each of our 2 states
StateTypePeak bloomSightings*
FloridaNativeJanuary–May3,475
MississippiNativeMarch–May570

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
Florida
Not listed Not on Florida Regulated Plant Index (Fla. Admin. Code 5B-40.0055). NatureServe: S4, apparently secure in Florida. FAC 5B-40.0055
Mississippi
No list Mississippi has no state law listing endangered or threatened plants, so we show NatureServe's Mississippi ranks instead. NatureServe: SNR, not yet ranked in Mississippi.
Rare elsewhere
Other states where NatureServe ranks it rare or missing: AR (S2), NC (SX), SC (S1), TN (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)) 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 has no state-by-state distribution for this name, so we can't map it yet.

More Florida flowers

Orange milkwort (Senega lutea)

Orange milkwort

Senega lutea

Native

🌼 Blooms in FL: January–May
Yellow bachelor's button (Senega rugelii)

Yellow bachelor's button

Senega rugelii

Native

🌼 Blooms in FL: January–December
Showy milkwort (Asemeia grandiflora)

Showy milkwort

Asemeia grandiflora

Native

🌼 Blooms in FL: January–December

Sources