Flower profile
Early blue cohosh
Caulophyllum giganteum
Early blue cohosh is a wildflower that USDA PLANTS lists as native in the lower 48 states. In Vermont it's most often seen in bloom in April–May.
*iNaturalist research-grade observations, as of October 17, 2026.
On our lists for: Vermont
Quick look
Caulophyllum giganteum, the northern blue cohosh, is a species of flowering plant in the barberry family. It is native primarily to northeastern North America, where it is found in rich forests.
- It belongs to the Berberidaceae 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 12 states. USDA PLANTS
- NatureServe lists it as native to Vermont. NatureServe
- In Vermont, most iNaturalist sightings of it in flower come in April–May. iNaturalist
- iNaturalist has 927 research-grade sightings of it in Vermont, ranking #98 among the 110 flowers on our Vermont list. iNaturalist
Early blue cohosh gift ideas
Handmade early blue cohosh 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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Early blue cohosh art print
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Early blue cohosh greeting card
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Early blue cohosh mug
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Early blue cohosh earrings
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Early blue cohosh embroidery pattern
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Early blue cohosh sticker
When does it bloom?
In Vermont, most flowering sightings come in April–May.
Conservation status
- Federal (U.S. ESA)
- Not listed No U.S. Endangered Species Act listing in the USFWS ECOS database. USFWS ECOS
- NatureServe global
- G4 Apparently secure worldwide. NatureServe
- Vermont
- Not listed Not on Endangered and Threatened Plants of Vermont (10 V.S.A. chap. 123; list of Feb 10, 2022). NatureServe: S4, apparently secure in Vermont. Vermont E&T list
- Rare elsewhere
- Other states where NatureServe ranks it rare or missing: IN (S1), MA (S2), NC (S1), NH (SH), 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?
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 early blue cohosh in 12 states.
recorded by USDA PLANTS on our state lists not recorded
See the full list of states
Kentucky, Massachusetts, Michigan, New Hampshire, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia.
More Vermont flowers
Sources
- USDA, NRCS. PLANTS Database, profile CAGI6.
- iNaturalist, Caulophyllum giganteum: taxonomy, research-grade observation counts and “Flowering” annotations, retrieved October 17, 2026.
- Wikipedia, Caulophyllum giganteum (lead quoted under CC BY-SA 4.0).
- Vermont: Endangered and Threatened Plants of Vermont (10 V.S.A. chap. 123; list of Feb 10, 2022).
- Vermont: Vermont Quarantine List, Regulated Introduced Plant Species Rule (eff. June 16, 2026).
- USFWS, ECOS species database (ESA listing check), October 17, 2026.
- NatureServe Explorer, Caulophyllum giganteum (global and state ranks).
- Edibility and toxicity: no source found (marked "not well documented").
- Photo: Tom Scavo via iNaturalist · CC BY 4.0 · resized.