Flower profile
Felwort
Swertia perennis
Felwort is a wildflower that USDA PLANTS lists as native in the lower 48 states. In Alaska it's most often seen in bloom in July–August.
*iNaturalist research-grade observations, as of October 17, 2026.
On our lists for: Alaska
Quick look
Swertia perennis is a species of flowering plant in the gentian family known by the common names felwort and star swertia. It is native to several regions of the northern hemisphere, including much of Eurasia and western North America. It is a plant of wetlands, particularly calcareous fens.
- It belongs to the Gentianaceae 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 Alaska. NatureServe
- In Alaska, most iNaturalist sightings of it in flower come in July–August. iNaturalist
- iNaturalist has 477 research-grade sightings of it in Alaska, ranking #90 among the 108 flowers on our Alaska list. iNaturalist
Felwort gift ideas
Handmade felwort 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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Felwort art print
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Felwort greeting card
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Felwort mug
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Felwort earrings
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Felwort embroidery pattern
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Felwort sticker
When does it bloom?
In Alaska, most flowering sightings come in July–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: S4, apparently secure in Alaska.
- Rare elsewhere
- Other states where NatureServe ranks it rare or missing: NV (S2), OR (S2), UT (S2), WA (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 felwort in 12 states.
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.
Alaska counties with USDA records: Aleutians East, Anchorage, Bethel, Chugach, Copper River, Denali, Dillingham, Juneau, Kenai Peninsula, Kodiak Island, Lake and Peninsula, Matanuska-Susitna, Sitka, Southeast Fairbanks, Yakutat.
More Alaska flowers
Sources
- USDA, NRCS. PLANTS Database, profile SWPE.
- iNaturalist, Swertia perennis: taxonomy, research-grade observation counts and “Flowering” annotations, retrieved October 17, 2026.
- Wikipedia, Swertia perennis (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, Swertia perennis (global and state ranks).
- Edibility and toxicity: no source found (marked "not well documented").
- Photo: Matt Bowser via iNaturalist · CC BY 4.0 · resized.