Flower profile
Prickly saxifrage
Saxifraga tricuspidata
Prickly saxifrage is a wildflower that USDA PLANTS lists as native in the lower 48 states. In Alaska it's most often seen in bloom in May–July.
*iNaturalist research-grade observations, as of October 17, 2026.
On our lists for: Alaska
Quick look
- It belongs to the Saxifragaceae 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 2 states. USDA PLANTS
- NatureServe lists it as native to Alaska. NatureServe
- In Alaska, most iNaturalist sightings of it in flower come in May–July. iNaturalist
- iNaturalist has 782 research-grade sightings of it in Alaska, ranking #55 among the 108 flowers on our Alaska list. iNaturalist
Prickly saxifrage gift ideas
Handmade prickly saxifrage 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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Prickly saxifrage art print
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Prickly saxifrage greeting card
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Prickly saxifrage mug
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Prickly saxifrage earrings
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Prickly saxifrage embroidery pattern
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Prickly saxifrage sticker
When does it bloom?
In Alaska, most flowering sightings come in May–July.
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
- 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
- Other states where NatureServe ranks it rare or missing: MI (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?
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 prickly saxifrage in 2 states.
recorded by USDA PLANTS on our state lists not recorded
See the full list of states
Alaska, Michigan.
Alaska counties with USDA records: Anchorage, Bethel, Chugach, Copper River, Denali, Fairbanks North Star, Haines, Juneau, Kenai Peninsula, Matanuska-Susitna, North Slope, Northwest Arctic, Southeast Fairbanks, Yakutat, Yukon-Koyukuk.
More Alaska flowers
Sources
- USDA, NRCS. PLANTS Database, profile SATR5.
- iNaturalist, Saxifraga tricuspidata: taxonomy, research-grade observation counts and “Flowering” annotations, retrieved October 17, 2026.
- Alaska: Alaska prohibited and restricted noxious weeds (11 AAC 34.020).
- USFWS, ECOS species database (ESA listing check), October 17, 2026.
- NatureServe Explorer, Saxifraga tricuspidata (global and state ranks).
- Edibility and toxicity: no source found (marked "not well documented").
- Photo: Eric Knight via iNaturalist · CC BY 4.0 · resized.