Flower profile

Leafcup

Polymnia canadensis

Leafcup (Polymnia canadensis) is a flowering plant in the Asteraceae family, native in the lower 48 states, blooming mostly June–September across the U.S.

Native to Arkansas

Leafcup is a wildflower that USDA PLANTS lists as native in the lower 48 states. In Arkansas it's most often seen in bloom in May–September.

23states where USDA records it

664AR sightings*

6,517U.S. sightings*

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

On our lists for: Arkansas

Quick look

Polymnia canadensis, commonly known as whiteflower leafcup, is a flowering perennial plant in the family Asteraceae. It is native to eastern North America from Ontario south to Alabama and from Kansas, Oklahoma, and Minnesota east to North Carolina, Vermont and Connecticut. It is considered endangered in the last three states. It is typically found in moist forests over calcareous rocks.
From Wikipedia's article Polymnia canadensis, CC BY-SA 4.0.

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 23 states. ^{USDA PLANTS}
NatureServe lists it as native to Arkansas. ^NatureServe
In Arkansas, most iNaturalist sightings of it in flower come in May–September. ^iNaturalist
iNaturalist has 664 research-grade sightings of it in Arkansas, ranking #75 among the 170 flowers on our Arkansas list. ^iNaturalist

When does it bloom?

In Arkansas, most flowering sightings come in May–September.

Flowering records by month in Arkansas (iNaturalist research-grade observations marked “Flowering”) (78 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
Arkansas: No list Arkansas has no state law listing endangered or threatened plants, so we show NatureServe's Arkansas ranks instead. NatureServe: SNR, not yet ranked in Arkansas.
Rare elsewhere: Other states where NatureServe ranks it rare or missing: CT (S1), KS (S1), NC (S2), VT (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 leafcup in 23 states plus Washington, D.C.

AKMEVTNHWAIDMTNDMNILWIMINYRIMAORNVWYSDIAINOHPANJCTCAUTCONEMOKYWVVAMDDEAZNMKSARTNNCSCDCOKLAMSALGAHITXFL

recorded by USDA PLANTS on our state lists not recorded

See the full list of states

Alabama, Arkansas, Connecticut, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia, Wisconsin; District of Columbia.

Arkansas counties with USDA records: Baxter, Benton, Cleburne, Conway, Crawford, Franklin, Garland, Independence, Johnson, Logan, Madison, Marion, Newton, Polk, Pope, Searcy, Stone, Washington.

Names, range and relatives

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

Other scientific names (synonyms in USDA PLANTS): Polymnia radiata.

County records: USDA PLANTS lists it in 440 counties across 20 states; the most are in Missouri (53), Illinois (52), Indiana (49).

More from the Asteraceae family (212 on Bloomipedia; most observed first): Common yarrow, Goldenrods, White snakeroot, Sunflowers, Chicory, Black-eyed Susan, Bull thistle, Common dandelion.

More Arkansas flowers

Black-eyed Susan

Rudbeckia hirta

★ MD state flowerNative

🌼 Blooms in AR: May–July

Late boneset

Eupatorium serotinum

Native

🌼 Blooms in AR: August–October

Bitterweed

Helenium amarum

Native

🌼 Blooms in AR: June–October

Sources

USDA, NRCS. PLANTS Database, profile POCA11.
iNaturalist, Polymnia canadensis: taxonomy, research-grade observation counts and “Flowering” annotations, retrieved October 17, 2026.
Wikipedia, Polymnia canadensis (lead quoted under CC BY-SA 4.0).
Arkansas: Arkansas State Plant Board noxious weeds and prohibited plants (2 CAR § 50-101).
USFWS, ECOS species database (ESA listing check), October 17, 2026.
NatureServe Explorer, Polymnia canadensis (global and state ranks).
Edibility and toxicity: no source found (marked "not well documented").
Photo: Kristi Zoebelein via iNaturalist · CC0 · resized.