Bloomipedia
Deer-cabbage (Nephrophyllidium crista-galli)
Photo: Chuck Wilson via iNaturalist · CC0 · resized

Flower profile

Deer-cabbage

Nephrophyllidium crista-galli

Deer-cabbage (Nephrophyllidium crista-galli) is a flowering plant in the Menyanthaceae family, native in the lower 48 states.

Native to Alaska

Deer-cabbage is a wildflower that USDA PLANTS lists as native in the lower 48 states.

3states where USDA records it
691AK sightings*
701U.S. sightings*

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

On our lists for: Alaska

Quick look

Nephrophyllidium is a monotypic genus of aquatic flowering plants in the family Menyanthaceae. The sole species is Nephrophyllidium crista-galli. They are wetland plants with basal reniform and crenate leaves. Flowers are five-parted and white, and the petals are adorned with lateral wings and a midline keel. Nephrophyllidium is most nearly related to Menyanthes, which is very similar in habit.

  • 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 3 states. USDA PLANTS
  • NatureServe lists it as native to Alaska. NatureServe
  • iNaturalist has 691 research-grade sightings of it in Alaska, ranking #62 among the 121 flowers on our Alaska list. iNaturalist

When does it bloom?

Flowering records by month in Alaska (iNaturalist research-grade observations marked “Flowering”) (21 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
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 deer-cabbage in 3 states.

recorded by USDA PLANTS on our state lists not recorded

See the full list of states

Alaska, Oregon, Washington.

Alaska counties with USDA records: Chugach, Copper River, Haines, Juneau, Kenai Peninsula, Ketchikan Gateway, Sitka, Yakutat.

Names, range and relatives

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

Other scientific names (synonyms in USDA PLANTS): Fauria crista-galli.

County records: USDA PLANTS lists it in 12 counties across 3 states; the most are in Alaska (8), Washington (3), Oregon (1).

More from the Menyanthaceae family (1 on Bloomipedia; most observed first): Bogbean.

More Alaska flowers

Bogbean (Menyanthes trifoliata)

Bogbean

Menyanthes trifoliata

Native

🌼 Blooms in AK: May–June
Fireweed (Chamaenerion angustifolium)

Fireweed

Chamaenerion angustifolium

Native

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

Common cowparsnip

Heracleum maximum

Native

🌼 Blooms in AK: June–July

Sources