Bloomipedia
Hooker's fairybells (Prosartes hookeri)
Photo: Judi Sanders via iNaturalist · CC BY 4.0 · resized

Flower profile

Hooker's fairybells

Prosartes hookeri

Hooker's fairybells (Prosartes hookeri) is a flowering plant in the Liliaceae family, native in the lower 48 states, blooming mostly April–May across the U.S.

Native to Oregon

Hooker's fairybells is a wildflower that USDA PLANTS lists as native in the lower 48 states. In Oregon it's most often seen in bloom in April–May.

6states where USDA records it
1,983OR sightings*
7,260U.S. sightings*

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

On our lists for: Oregon

Quick look

Prosartes hookeri is a North American species of flowering plants in the lily family known by the common names drops of gold and Hooker's fairy bells.

  • It belongs to the Liliaceae 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 6 states. USDA PLANTS
  • NatureServe lists it as native to Oregon. NatureServe
  • In Oregon, most iNaturalist sightings of it in flower come in April–May. iNaturalist
  • iNaturalist has 1,983 research-grade sightings of it in Oregon, ranking #88 among the 184 flowers on our Oregon list. iNaturalist

When does it bloom?

In Oregon, most flowering sightings come in April–May.

Flowering records by month in Oregon (iNaturalist research-grade observations marked “Flowering”) (335 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
Oregon
Not listed Not on Oregon endangered and threatened plants (OAR 603-073-0070). NatureServe: SNR, not yet ranked in Oregon. OAR 603-073-0070
Rare elsewhere
Other states where NatureServe ranks it rare or missing: MI (S2), SD (S2), WY (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 hooker's fairybells in 6 states.

recorded by USDA PLANTS on our state lists not recorded

See the full list of states

California, Idaho, Michigan, Montana, Oregon, Washington.

Oregon counties with USDA records: Baker, Benton, Clackamas, Clatsop, Coos, Curry, Douglas, Hood River, Jackson, Jefferson, Josephine, Klamath, Lane, Lincoln, Linn, Marion, Multnomah, Polk, Tillamook, Umatilla, Union, Wallowa, Wasco, Washington, Yamhill.

Names, range and relatives

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

County records: USDA PLANTS lists it in 96 counties across 6 states; the most are in California (31), Washington (28), Oregon (25).

Other Prosartes on Bloomipedia (1): Largeflower fairybells.

More from the Liliaceae family (32 on Bloomipedia; most observed first): Yellow trout lily, Cucumber root, Bluebead lily, White fawnlily, Checker lily, White globe lily, Glacier lily, Yellow mariposa lily.

More Oregon flowers

Giant white fawn lily (Erythronium oregonum)

Giant white fawn lily

Erythronium oregonum

Native

🌼 Blooms in OR: March–April
Tolmie's pussy ears (Calochortus tolmiei)

Tolmie's pussy ears

Calochortus tolmiei

Native

🌼 Blooms in OR: April–May
Columbia lily (Lilium columbianum)

Columbia lily

Lilium columbianum

Native

🌼 Blooms in OR: June–July

Sources