Bloomipedia
Felwort (Swertia perennis)
Photo: Matt Bowser via iNaturalist · CC BY 4.0 · resized

Flower profile

Felwort

Swertia perennis

Felwort (Swertia perennis) is a flowering plant in the Gentianaceae family, native in the lower 48 states, blooming mostly July–August across the U.S.

Native to Alaska

Felwort is a wildflower that USDA PLANTS lists as native in the lower 48 states.

12states where USDA records it
477AK sightings*
2,053U.S. sightings*

*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
  • iNaturalist has 477 research-grade sightings of it in Alaska, ranking #90 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”) (24 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: 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?

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 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.

Names, range and relatives

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

County records: USDA PLANTS lists it in 89 counties across 12 states; the most are in Colorado (29), Alaska (15), Utah (9).

More from the Gentianaceae family (8 on Bloomipedia; most observed first): Monument plant, Rosepink, Meadow pink, Mountain bog gentian, Parry's gentian, Bottle gentian, Rocky Mountain fringed gentian, Broad-petal gentian.

More Alaska flowers

Broad-petal gentian (Gentiana platypetala)

Broad-petal gentian

Gentiana platypetala

Native

🌼 Blooms in AK: July–September
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