Bloomipedia
Common silverweed (Argentina anserina)
Photo: Kevin Anderson via iNaturalist · CC BY 4.0 · resized

Flower profile

Common silverweed

Argentina anserina

Common silverweed (Argentina anserina) is a flowering plant in the Rosaceae family, native in the lower 48 states, blooming mostly May–August across the U.S.

Native to North Dakota

Common silverweed is a wildflower that USDA PLANTS lists as native in the lower 48 states.

33states where USDA records it
65ND sightings*
4,518U.S. sightings*

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

On our lists for: North Dakota

Quick look

Argentina anserina is a perennial flowering plant in the rose family, Rosaceae. It is known by the common names silverweed, common silverweed or silver cinquefoil. It is native throughout the temperate Northern Hemisphere, often on river shores and in grassy habitats such as meadows and road-sides.

  • It belongs to the Rosaceae 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 33 states. USDA PLANTS
  • NatureServe lists it as native to North Dakota. NatureServe
  • USDA PLANTS lists its flower color as yellow. USDA PLANTS
  • USDA PLANTS gives its bloom period as spring. USDA PLANTS
  • USDA PLANTS lists a mature height of about 0.5 ft. USDA PLANTS
  • iNaturalist has 65 research-grade sightings of it in North Dakota, ranking #95 among the 116 flowers on our North Dakota list. iNaturalist

When does it bloom?

Flowering records by month across the U.S. (iNaturalist research-grade observations marked “Flowering”) (328 records)

There are only a handful of North Dakota flowering records, so this chart uses records from across the U.S.

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
North Dakota
No list North Dakota has no state law listing endangered or threatened plants, so we show NatureServe's North Dakota ranks instead. NatureServe: SNR, not yet ranked in North Dakota.
Rare elsewhere
Other states where NatureServe ranks it rare or missing: IA (S1), IN (S2), NE (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 common silverweed in 33 states.

recorded by USDA PLANTS on our state lists not recorded

See the full list of states

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

North Dakota counties with USDA records: Adams, Barnes, Benson, Bottineau, Burke, Cass, Cavalier, Dickey, Divide, Eddy, Emmons, Foster, Golden Valley, Grand Forks, Grant, Griggs, Kidder, LaMoure, Logan, McHenry, McIntosh, McKenzie, McLean, Mercer, Mountrail, Nelson, Oliver, Pembina, Pierce, Ransom, Richland, Rolette, Sargent, Sheridan, Steele, Stutsman, Towner, Walsh, Ward, Wells, Williams.

Growing conditions

USDA PLANTS gives Common silverweed a low shade tolerance, low drought tolerance and high moisture use. It is rated for soil pH 7.0 to 8.0 and winter lows down to -23 °F.

Shade tolerance
Low
Drought tolerance
Low
Moisture use
High
Soil textures it is adapted to
coarse, medium, fine
Soil pH range
7.0 to 8.0
Minimum temperature tolerated
-23 °F
Frost-free days needed (minimum)
200
Annual precipitation range
11 to 40 inches
Minimum root depth
6 inches
Salinity tolerance
Low
Fertility requirement
Low
Growth rate
Rapid
Lifespan
Short
Active growth period
Spring and Summer
Fruit or seed
Brown · Summer to Fall
Can be propagated by
bare root, container
Commercial availability
Routinely Available

From the USDA PLANTS characteristics data for ARAN7. 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; Lower 48 states: Native; St. Pierre and Miquelon: Native.

Other scientific names (synonyms in USDA PLANTS): Argentina argentea, Potentilla anserina, Potentilla yukonensis.

County records: USDA PLANTS lists it in 416 counties across 31 states; the most are in Michigan (47), North Dakota (41), Minnesota (32).

More from the Rosaceae family (103 on Bloomipedia; most observed first): Roses (genus Rosa), Multiflora rose, Mock strawberry, Black cherry, Toyon, Thimbleberry, Wineberry, Black raspberry.

More North Dakota flowers

Roses (genus Rosa) (Rosa)

Roses (genus Rosa)

Rosa

★ NY state flower🌷 Garden flower

🌷 Grown in North Dakota gardens
Prairie rose (Rosa arkansana)

Prairie rose

Rosa arkansana

★ ND state flowerNative

🌼 Few flowering records in ND
Chokecherry (Prunus virginiana)

Chokecherry

Prunus virginiana

Native

🌼 Few flowering records in ND

Sources