Flower profile
Rattleweed
Crotalaria retusa
Rattleweed (Crotalaria retusa) is a low shrub in the Fabaceae family, introduced in the lower 48 states, blooming mostly January–October across the U.S.
Rattleweed is a wildflower that USDA PLANTS lists as introduced in the lower 48 states.
*iNaturalist research-grade observations, as of October 17, 2026.
On our lists for: Hawaii
Quick look
Crotalaria retusa is a species of flowering plant in the legume family known by various common names including devil-bean, rattleweed, shack shack, and wedge-leaf rattlepod. It is poisonous to livestock, and contaminates human food. Its original native range is unclear, probably including tropical Asia, Africa and Australia.
- It belongs to the Fabaceae family. iNaturalist
- USDA PLANTS describes it as an herb (forb) / a subshrub with a annual life cycle. USDA PLANTS
- USDA PLANTS lists it as introduced in the lower 48 states and records it in 10 states. USDA PLANTS
- NatureServe lists it as not native to Hawaii. NatureServe
- iNaturalist has 572 research-grade sightings of it in Hawaii, ranking #87 among the 118 flowers on our Hawaii list. iNaturalist
When does it bloom?
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
- Hawaii
- Not listed Not on Hawaii threatened and endangered plants (HAR 13-107; the state list follows the federal list), DLNR Division of Forestry and Wildlife. NatureServe: SNA, not applicable (usually because it isn't native there) in Hawaii. HAR 13-107
- 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. For context only: ASPCA lists a related species, Crotalaria albida (“Rattlebox”), as non-toxic to dogs and cats. That doesn't tell us about this species, so keep pets away to be safe. ASPCA
🌿 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 rattleweed in 10 states.
recorded by USDA PLANTS on our state lists not recorded
See the full list of states
Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, New Jersey, North Carolina, South Carolina, Texas.
Hawaii counties with USDA records: Hawaii, Honolulu, Kauai, Maui.
Names, range and relatives
Native status by region (USDA PLANTS): Hawaii: Introduced; Lower 48 states: Introduced; Navassa Island: Introduced; Puerto Rico: Introduced; U.S. Virgin Islands: Introduced.
County records: USDA PLANTS lists it in 22 counties across 6 states; the most are in Florida (11), Hawaii (4), Georgia (2).
More from the Fabaceae family (114 on Bloomipedia; most observed first): Lupines, White clover, Red clover, Eastern redbud, Purple crownvetch, Bird's-foot trefoil, Partridge pea, White sweetclover.
More Hawaii flowers
Sources
- USDA, NRCS. PLANTS Database, profile CRRE4.
- iNaturalist, Crotalaria retusa: taxonomy, research-grade observation counts and “Flowering” annotations, retrieved October 17, 2026.
- Wikipedia, Crotalaria retusa (lead quoted under CC BY-SA 4.0).
- Hawaii: Hawaii threatened and endangered plants (HAR 13-107; the state list follows the federal list), DLNR Division of Forestry and Wildlife.
- Hawaii: Hawaii noxious weed list (HAR 4-68).
- USFWS, ECOS species database (ESA listing check), October 17, 2026.
- NatureServe Explorer, Crotalaria retusa (global and state ranks).
- Edibility and toxicity: ASPCA.
- Photo: David Anderson via iNaturalist · CC BY 4.0 · resized.