Bloomipedia
Nuttall's toothwort (Cardamine nuttallii)
Photo: botanygirl via iNaturalist · CC BY 4.0 · resized

Flower profile

Nuttall's toothwort

Cardamine nuttallii

Native to Oregon

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

3states
3,074OR sightings*
3,836U.S. sightings*

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

On our lists for: Oregon

Quick look

Cardamine nuttallii is a species of cardamine known by the common name Nuttall's toothwort. It is native to western North America from British Columbia to California, where it grows in moist mountain habitats.

  • It belongs to the Brassicaceae 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 3 states. USDA PLANTS
  • NatureServe lists it as native to Oregon. NatureServe
  • In Oregon, most iNaturalist sightings of it in flower come in February–April. iNaturalist
  • iNaturalist has 3,074 research-grade sightings of it in Oregon, ranking #50 among the 110 flowers on our Oregon list. iNaturalist

Nuttall's toothwort gift ideas

Handmade nuttall's toothwort gifts from independent makers.

🌱 Sample spot. Handmade gift picks from independent shops will appear here once our shop partnership is approved. These cards are placeholders, not real products.

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    Nuttall's toothwort art print

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    Nuttall's toothwort greeting card

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    Nuttall's toothwort mug

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    Nuttall's toothwort earrings

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    Nuttall's toothwort embroidery pattern

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    Nuttall's toothwort sticker

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When does it bloom?

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

Flowering records by month in Oregon (iNaturalist research-grade observations marked “Flowering”) (882 records)

Conservation status

Federal (U.S. ESA)
Not listed Not listed under the Endangered Species Act. USFWS ECOS does track it with the label “Species of Concern,” which is informal and gives no legal protection. 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
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 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 nuttall's toothwort in 3 states.

recorded by USDA PLANTS on our state lists not recorded

See the full list of states

California, Oregon, Washington.

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

More Oregon flowers

Pacific trillium (Trillium ovatum)

Pacific trillium

Trillium ovatum

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🌼 Blooms in OR: March–May
Salal (Gaultheria shallon)

Salal

Gaultheria shallon

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🌼 Blooms in OR: April–July
Thimbleberry (Rubus parviflorus)

Thimbleberry

Rubus parviflorus

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🌼 Blooms in OR: April–July

Sources