Flower profile
Deer-cabbage
Nephrophyllidium crista-galli
Deer-cabbage is a wildflower that USDA PLANTS lists as native in the lower 48 states. In Alaska it's most often seen in bloom in May–August.
*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
- In Alaska, most iNaturalist sightings of it in flower come in May–August. iNaturalist
- iNaturalist has 691 research-grade sightings of it in Alaska, ranking #62 among the 108 flowers on our Alaska list. iNaturalist
Deer-cabbage gift ideas
Handmade deer-cabbage 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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Deer-cabbage art print
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Deer-cabbage greeting card
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Deer-cabbage mug
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Deer-cabbage earrings
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Deer-cabbage embroidery pattern
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Deer-cabbage sticker
When does it bloom?
In Alaska, most flowering sightings come in May–August.
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?
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.
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.
More Alaska flowers
Sources
- USDA, NRCS. PLANTS Database, profile NECR2.
- iNaturalist, Nephrophyllidium crista-galli: taxonomy, research-grade observation counts and “Flowering” annotations, retrieved October 17, 2026.
- Wikipedia, Nephrophyllidium (lead quoted under CC BY-SA 4.0).
- Alaska: Alaska prohibited and restricted noxious weeds (11 AAC 34.020).
- USFWS, ECOS species database (ESA listing check), October 17, 2026.
- NatureServe Explorer, Nephrophyllidium crista-galli (global and state ranks).
- Edibility and toxicity: no source found (marked "not well documented").
- Photo: Chuck Wilson via iNaturalist · CC0 · resized.