Bloomipedia
Heartleaf arnica (Arnica cordifolia)
Photo: Daughter Dad via iNaturalist · CC BY 4.0 · resized

Flower profile

Heartleaf arnica

Arnica cordifolia

Native in the lower 48

Heartleaf arnica is a wildflower that USDA PLANTS lists as native in the lower 48 states. It's on our flower lists for 2 states, and across the U.S. it's most often seen in bloom in May–July.

15states
2of our state lists
4,043U.S. sightings*

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

On our lists for: Montana, Wyoming

Quick look

Arnica cordifolia is a species of arnica in the sunflower family, known by the common name heartleaf arnica. It is native to western North America.

  • It belongs to the Asteraceae 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 15 states. USDA PLANTS
  • NatureServe lists it as native to Montana and Wyoming. NatureServe
  • In Montana, most iNaturalist sightings of it in flower come in May–July. iNaturalist
  • USDA PLANTS lists its flower color as yellow. USDA PLANTS
  • USDA PLANTS gives its bloom period as late spring. USDA PLANTS
  • USDA PLANTS lists a mature height of about 1.5 ft. USDA PLANTS
  • iNaturalist has 872 research-grade sightings of it in Montana, ranking #40 among the 109 flowers on our Montana list. iNaturalist
  • iNaturalist has 303 research-grade sightings of it in Wyoming, ranking #95 among the 107 flowers on our Wyoming list. iNaturalist

Heartleaf arnica gift ideas

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When does it bloom?

Flowering records by month across the U.S. (iNaturalist research-grade observations marked “Flowering”) (339 records)
Bloom time in each of our 2 states
StateTypePeak bloomSightings*
MontanaNativeMay–July872
WyomingNativefew records303

Conservation status

Federal (U.S. ESA)
Not listed Not listed under the Endangered Species Act. USFWS ECOS does track it with the label “Resolved Taxon,” which is informal and gives no legal protection. USFWS ECOS
NatureServe global
G5 Secure worldwide. NatureServe
Montana
No list Montana has no state law listing endangered or threatened plants, so we show NatureServe's Montana ranks instead. NatureServe: S5, secure in Montana.
Wyoming
No list Wyoming has no state law listing endangered or threatened plants, so we show NatureServe's Wyoming ranks instead. NatureServe: S5, secure in Wyoming.
Rare elsewhere
Other states where NatureServe ranks it rare or missing: MI (S1), NE (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 heartleaf arnica in 15 states.

recorded by USDA PLANTS on our state lists not recorded

See the full list of states

Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Idaho, Michigan, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oregon, South Dakota, Utah, Washington, Wyoming.

Montana counties with USDA records: Beaverhead, Broadwater, Carbon, Cascade, Deer Lodge, Flathead, Gallatin, Glacier, Granite, Hill, Jefferson, Judith Basin, Lake, Lewis and Clark, Madison, Meagher, Missoula, Park, Phillips, Powell, Rosebud, Silver Bow, Stillwater.

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

More Montana flowers

Common yarrow (Achillea millefolium)

Common yarrow

Achillea millefolium

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🌼 Blooms in MT: June–September
Creeping thistle (Cirsium arvense)

Creeping thistle

Cirsium arvense

Introduced

🌼 Few flowering records in MT
Upright prairie coneflower (Ratibida columnifera)

Upright prairie coneflower

Ratibida columnifera

Native

🌼 Blooms in MT: June–August

Sources