Bloomipedia
Goutweed (Aegopodium podagraria)
Photo: er-birds via iNaturalist · CC BY 4.0 · resized

Flower profile

Goutweed

Aegopodium podagraria

Goutweed (Aegopodium podagraria) is a flowering plant in the Apiaceae family, introduced in the lower 48 states, blooming mostly May–July across the U.S.

Introduced in the lower 48

Goutweed is a wildflower that USDA PLANTS lists as introduced in the lower 48 states. It's on our flower lists for 3 states, and across the U.S. it's most often seen in bloom in May–July.

29states where USDA records it
3Bloomipedia state lists include it
12,773U.S. sightings*

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

On our lists for: New York, Pennsylvania, Vermont

🚫
Regulated invasive plant in Vermont. It's on that state' official invasive plant list (Vermont: Quarantine List, Tier 3). Please don't plant or share it there. Vermont Quarantine List

Quick look

Aegopodium podagraria, commonly called ground elder, is a species of flowering plant in the carrot family Apiaceae that grows in shady places. The name "ground elder" comes from the superficial similarity of its leaves and flowers to those of elder (Sambucus), which is not closely related.

  • It belongs to the Apiaceae family. iNaturalist
  • USDA PLANTS describes it as an herb (forb) with a perennial life cycle. USDA PLANTS
  • USDA PLANTS lists it as introduced in the lower 48 states and records it in 29 states. USDA PLANTS
  • NatureServe lists it as not native to New York, Pennsylvania and Vermont. NatureServe
  • In New York, most iNaturalist sightings of it in flower come in May–June. iNaturalist
  • In Pennsylvania, most iNaturalist sightings of it in flower come in May–June. iNaturalist
  • iNaturalist has 2,496 research-grade sightings of it in New York, ranking #98 among the 193 flowers on our New York list. iNaturalist
  • iNaturalist has 2,307 research-grade sightings of it in Pennsylvania, ranking #91 among the 190 flowers on our Pennsylvania list. iNaturalist
  • iNaturalist has 1,813 research-grade sightings of it in Vermont, ranking #40 among the 159 flowers on our Vermont list. iNaturalist

When does it bloom?

Flowering records by month across the U.S. (iNaturalist research-grade observations marked “Flowering”) (629 records)
Bloom time in the 3 states whose Bloomipedia list includes it
StateTypePeak bloomSightings*
New YorkIntroducedMay–June2,496
PennsylvaniaIntroducedMay–June2,307
VermontIntroducedJune–July1,813

Conservation status

Federal (U.S. ESA)
Not listed No U.S. Endangered Species Act listing in the USFWS ECOS database. USFWS ECOS
NatureServe global
GNR Not yet ranked worldwide. NatureServe
New York
Not listed Not on New York protected native plants (6 NYCRR § 193.3). NatureServe: SNA, not applicable (usually because it isn't native there) in New York. 6 NYCRR § 193.3
Pennsylvania
Not listed Not on Pennsylvania classified native plants (17 Pa. Code Ch. 45, Subchapter B, as amended 2023). NatureServe: SNA, not applicable (usually because it isn't native there) in Pennsylvania. 17 Pa. Code Ch. 45
Vermont
Not listed Not on Endangered and Threatened Plants of Vermont (10 V.S.A. chap. 123; list of Feb 10, 2022). NatureServe: SNA, not applicable (usually because it isn't native there) in Vermont. Vermont E&T list
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?

For peopleEdible (per NC State Extension)

NC State Extension notes: “The leaves can be eaten both raw or cooked. For best flavor, harvest before the plant flowers. They can be used in soups, salads, or eaten as a vegetable.” NC State Extension

For petsNot well documented

It isn't on the ASPCA plant list, and NC State Extension doesn't flag it for pets.

🌿 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 goutweed in 29 states plus Washington, D.C.

recorded by USDA PLANTS on our state lists not recorded

See the full list of states

Connecticut, Delaware, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin; District of Columbia.

New York counties with USDA records: Albany, Bronx, Chemung, Erie, Essex, Kings, Livingston, Nassau, New York, Orange, Putnam, Queens, Rensselaer, Richmond, Schoharie, Suffolk, Tioga, Ulster, Westchester.

Pennsylvania counties with USDA records: Allegheny, Bedford, Berks, Blair, Bucks, Centre, Chester, Clearfield, Columbia, Dauphin, Delaware, Erie, Huntingdon, Lackawanna, Lancaster, Lehigh, McKean, Monroe, Montgomery, Northampton, Philadelphia, Schuylkill, Sullivan, Warren.

Vermont counties with USDA records: Bennington, Caledonia, Chittenden, Lamoille, Washington, Windham.

Names, range and relatives

Native status by region (USDA PLANTS): Canada: Introduced; Lower 48 states: Introduced; St. Pierre and Miquelon: Introduced.

County records: USDA PLANTS lists it in 165 counties across 26 states; the most are in Pennsylvania (24), New York (19), Ohio (16).

More from the Apiaceae family (16 on Bloomipedia; most observed first): Queen Anne's lace (wild carrot), Common cowparsnip, Poison hemlock, Common hedge parsley, Fennel, Rattlesnake master, Golden alexanders, Aniseroot.

More New York flowers

Queen Anne's lace (wild carrot) (Daucus carota)

Queen Anne's lace (wild carrot)

Daucus carota

Introduced

🌼 Blooms in NY: July–September
White snakeroot (Ageratina altissima)

White snakeroot

Ageratina altissima

Native

🌼 Blooms in NY: August–October
Common milkweed (Asclepias syriaca)

Common milkweed

Asclepias syriaca

Native

🌼 Blooms in NY: June–July

Sources