Flower profile
Partridgefoot
Luetkea pectinata
Partridgefoot (Luetkea pectinata) is a low shrub in the Rosaceae family, native in the lower 48 states, blooming mostly July–August across the U.S.
Partridgefoot is a flowering plant 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 July–August.
*iNaturalist research-grade observations, as of October 17, 2026.
On our lists for: Alaska, Washington
Quick look
Luetkea is a genus of herbaceous plants in the family Rosaceae. One species is accepted. Luetkea pectinata is a mat-forming semi-shrub. It is endemic to the cold portions of western North America occurring in subarctic Alaska, Yukon, western Northwest Territories, and subalpine to alpine regions of British Columbia, southwestern Alberta, Washington, Oregon, Idaho, northern California and western Montana.
- It belongs to the Rosaceae family. iNaturalist
- USDA PLANTS describes it as a subshrub 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 Washington and Alaska. NatureServe
- In Washington, most iNaturalist sightings of it in flower come in July–August. iNaturalist
- In Alaska, most iNaturalist sightings of it in flower come in July–August. iNaturalist
- iNaturalist has 2,920 research-grade sightings of it in Washington, ranking #62 among the 187 flowers on our Washington list. iNaturalist
- iNaturalist has 927 research-grade sightings of it in Alaska, ranking #49 among the 121 flowers on our Alaska list. iNaturalist
When does it bloom?
Bloom time in the 2 states whose Bloomipedia list includes it
| State | Type | Peak bloom | Sightings* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Washington | Native | July–August | 2,920 |
| Alaska | Native | July–August | 927 |
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
- Washington
- No list Washington has no state law listing endangered or threatened plants (the Washington Natural Heritage Program's rare plant list isn't regulatory), so we show NatureServe's Washington ranks instead. NatureServe: SNR, not yet ranked in Washington.
- Alaska
- No list Alaska has no state law listing endangered or threatened plants, so we show NatureServe's Alaska ranks instead. NatureServe: SNR, not yet ranked in Alaska.
- 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?
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.
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 partridgefoot in 6 states.
recorded by USDA PLANTS on our state lists not recorded
See the full list of states
Alaska, California, Idaho, Montana, Oregon, Washington.
Washington counties with USDA records: Chelan, Clallam, Cowlitz, Ferry, Grays Harbor, Jefferson, King, Kittitas, Lewis, Mason, Okanogan, Pierce, San Juan, Skagit, Skamania, Snohomish, Whatcom, Yakima.
Alaska counties with USDA records: Anchorage, Bethel, Chugach, Copper River, Denali, Dillingham, Haines, Juneau, Kenai Peninsula, Ketchikan Gateway, Kodiak Island, Lake and Peninsula, Matanuska-Susitna, Sitka, Yakutat.
Names, range and relatives
Native status by region (USDA PLANTS): Alaska: Native; Canada: Native; Lower 48 states: Native.
County records: USDA PLANTS lists it in 52 counties across 6 states; the most are in Washington (18), Alaska (15), Oregon (11).
More from the Rosaceae family (103 on Bloomipedia; most observed first): Roses (genus Rosa), Multiflora rose, Mock strawberry, Black cherry, Toyon, Thimbleberry, Wineberry, Black raspberry.
More Washington flowers
Sources
- USDA, NRCS. PLANTS Database, profile LUPE.
- iNaturalist, Luetkea pectinata: taxonomy, research-grade observation counts and “Flowering” annotations, retrieved October 17, 2026.
- Wikipedia, Luetkea (lead quoted under CC BY-SA 4.0).
- Washington: Washington State noxious weed list (WAC 16-750-005, -011, -015).
- Alaska: Alaska prohibited and restricted noxious weeds (11 AAC 34.020).
- USFWS, ECOS species database (ESA listing check), October 17, 2026.
- NatureServe Explorer, Luetkea pectinata (global and state ranks).
- Edibility and toxicity: no source found (marked "not well documented").
- Photo: John Brew via iNaturalist · CC BY 4.0 · resized.