Flower profile

Elephant's-Head lousewort

Pedicularis groenlandica

Elephant's-Head lousewort (Pedicularis groenlandica) is a flowering plant in the Orobanchaceae family, native in the lower 48 states, blooming mostly June–August across the U.S.

Native in the lower 48

Elephant's-Head lousewort is a wildflower that USDA PLANTS lists as native in the lower 48 states. It's on our flower lists for 5 states, and across the U.S. it's most often seen in bloom in June–August.

12states where USDA records it

5Bloomipedia state lists include it

10,241U.S. sightings*

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

On our lists for: Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Utah, Wyoming

Quick look

Pedicularis groenlandica is a showy flowering plant in the family Orobanchaceae commonly known as elephant's head, little pink elephant, elephantella, or similar common names inspired by the resemblance of the flower to the head of an elephant. It is also less commonly known as butterfly tongue for the long beak on the flower.
From Wikipedia's article Pedicularis groenlandica, CC BY-SA 4.0.

It belongs to the Orobanchaceae 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 Colorado, Wyoming, Utah, Montana and Idaho. ^NatureServe
In Colorado, most iNaturalist sightings of it in flower come in June–August. ^iNaturalist
In Wyoming, most iNaturalist sightings of it in flower come in June–August. ^iNaturalist
USDA PLANTS lists its flower color as purple. ^{USDA PLANTS}
USDA PLANTS gives its bloom period as late spring. ^{USDA PLANTS}
USDA PLANTS lists a mature height of about 2.5 ft. ^{USDA PLANTS}
iNaturalist has 4,021 research-grade sightings of it in Colorado, ranking #27 among the 160 flowers on our Colorado list. ^iNaturalist
iNaturalist has 1,066 research-grade sightings of it in Wyoming, ranking #14 among the 113 flowers on our Wyoming list. ^iNaturalist
iNaturalist has 698 research-grade sightings of it in Utah, ranking #85 among the 153 flowers on our Utah list. ^iNaturalist

When does it bloom?

Flowering records by month across the U.S. (iNaturalist research-grade observations marked “Flowering”) (1,200 records)

Bloom time in the 5 states whose Bloomipedia list includes it

State	Type	Peak bloom	Sightings*
Colorado	Native	June–August	4,021
Wyoming	Native	June–August	1,066
Utah	Native	July–August	698
Montana	Native	few records (35)	513
Idaho	Native	few records (31)	416

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
Colorado: No list Colorado has no state law listing endangered or threatened plants, so we show NatureServe's Colorado ranks instead. NatureServe: S4, apparently secure in Colorado.
Wyoming: No list Wyoming has no state law listing endangered or threatened plants, so we show NatureServe's Wyoming ranks instead. NatureServe: S4, apparently secure in Wyoming.
Utah: No list Utah has no state law listing endangered or threatened plants, so we show NatureServe's Utah ranks instead. NatureServe: SNR, not yet ranked in Utah.
Montana: No list Montana has no state law listing endangered or threatened plants, so we show NatureServe's Montana ranks instead. NatureServe: S4, apparently secure in Montana.
Idaho: No list Idaho has no state law listing endangered or threatened plants, so we show NatureServe's Idaho ranks instead. NatureServe: SNR, not yet ranked in Idaho.
Rare elsewhere: Other states where NatureServe ranks it rare or missing: AK (S2). (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 elephant's-Head lousewort in 12 states.

AKMEVTNHWAIDMTNDMNILWIMINYRIMAORNVWYSDIAINOHPANJCTCAUTCONEMOKYWVVAMDDEAZNMKSARTNNCSCDCOKLAMSALGAHITXFL

recorded by USDA PLANTS on our state lists not recorded

See the full list of states

Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Utah, Washington, Wyoming.

Colorado counties with USDA records: Alamosa, Boulder, Clear Creek, Conejos, Costilla, Custer, Delta, Dolores, Douglas, Eagle, El Paso, Garfield, Gilpin, Grand, Gunnison, Hinsdale, Huerfano, Jackson, La Plata, Lake, Larimer, Mesa, Mineral, Montezuma, Ouray, Park, Pitkin, Routt, Saguache, San Juan, San Miguel, Summit.

Wyoming counties with USDA records: Albany, Big Horn, Carbon, Converse, Fremont, Hot Springs, Johnson, Lincoln, Park, Sheridan, Sublette, Teton, Uinta, Washakie.

Utah counties with USDA records: Beaver, Cache, Daggett, Duchesne, Garfield, Iron, Kane, Piute, Rich, Salt Lake, Sanpete, Sevier, Summit, Uintah, Utah, Wasatch.

Growing conditions

USDA PLANTS gives Elephant's-Head lousewort a medium shade tolerance, low drought tolerance and high moisture use. It is rated for soil pH 5.8 to 7.2 and winter lows down to -33 °F.

Shade tolerance: Medium
Drought tolerance: Low
Moisture use: High
Soil textures it is adapted to: medium
Soil pH range: 5.8 to 7.2
Minimum temperature tolerated: -33 °F
Frost-free days needed (minimum): 90
Annual precipitation range: 10 to 50 inches
Minimum root depth: 8 inches
Salinity tolerance: None
Fertility requirement: Medium
Growth rate: Moderate
Lifespan: Short
Active growth period: Spring and Summer
Fruit or seed: Brown · Spring to Summer
Can be propagated by: bare root, seed
Commercial availability: Routinely Available

From the USDA PLANTS characteristics data for PEGR2. 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; Greenland: Native; Lower 48 states: Native.

Other scientific names (synonyms in USDA PLANTS): Elephantella groenlandica.

County records: USDA PLANTS lists it in 159 counties across 12 states; the most are in Colorado (32), Idaho (22), California (18).

Other Pedicularis on Bloomipedia (8): Canadian lousewort, Warrior's plume, Sickletop lousewort, Bracted lousewort, Dwarf lousewort, Whorled lousewort, Labrador lousewort, Woolly lousewort.

More from the Orobanchaceae family (24 on Bloomipedia; most observed first): Texas paintbrush, Purple owl's-clover, Felt paintbrush, Giant red paintbrush, Narrowleaf cow wheat, Desert paintbrush, Wholeleaf paintbrush, Florida bluehearts.

More Colorado flowers

Wholeleaf paintbrush

Castilleja integra

Native

🌼 Blooms in CO: May–July

Rhexia-leaved paintbrush

Castilleja rhexiifolia

Native

🌼 Blooms in CO: July–August

Sickletop lousewort

Pedicularis racemosa

Native

🌼 Blooms in CO: July–August

Sources

USDA, NRCS. PLANTS Database, profile PEGR2.
iNaturalist, Pedicularis groenlandica: taxonomy, research-grade observation counts and “Flowering” annotations, retrieved October 17, 2026.
Wikipedia, Pedicularis groenlandica (lead quoted under CC BY-SA 4.0).
Colorado: Colorado noxious weed lists A, B and C (8 CCR 1206-2, eff. May 15, 2025).
Wyoming: Wyoming state designated noxious weeds (W.S. 11-5-102(a)(xi)), as listed by the Wyoming Weed & Pest Council.
Utah: Utah noxious weed list (Utah Admin. Code R68-9-3).
Montana: Montana noxious weed list (Admin. R. Mont. 4.5.206–4.5.210).
Idaho: Idaho noxious weeds (IDAPA 02.06.09, Section 220).
USFWS, ECOS species database (ESA listing check), October 17, 2026.
NatureServe Explorer, Pedicularis groenlandica (global and state ranks).
Edibility and toxicity: no source found (marked "not well documented").
Photo: Bob Walker via iNaturalist · CC BY 4.0 · resized.