Flower profile

Rocky Mountain fringed gentian

Gentianopsis thermalis

Rocky Mountain fringed gentian (Gentianopsis thermalis) is a flowering plant in the Gentianaceae family, native in the lower 48 states, blooming mostly July–August across the U.S.

Native to Wyoming

Rocky Mountain fringed gentian is a wildflower that USDA PLANTS lists as native in the lower 48 states. In Wyoming it's most often seen in bloom in June–September.

7states where USDA records it

944WY sightings*

1,992U.S. sightings*

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

On our lists for: Wyoming

Quick look

It belongs to the Gentianaceae family. ^iNaturalist
USDA PLANTS describes it as an herb (forb) with a annual life cycle. ^{USDA PLANTS}
USDA PLANTS lists it as native in the lower 48 states and records it in 7 states. ^{USDA PLANTS}
NatureServe lists it as native to Wyoming. ^NatureServe
In Wyoming, most iNaturalist sightings of it in flower come in June–September. ^iNaturalist
iNaturalist has 944 research-grade sightings of it in Wyoming, ranking #16 among the 113 flowers on our Wyoming list. ^iNaturalist

When does it bloom?

In Wyoming, most flowering sightings come in June–September.

Flowering records by month in Wyoming (iNaturalist research-grade observations marked “Flowering”) (131 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: G4 Apparently secure worldwide. ^NatureServe
Wyoming: No list Wyoming has no state law listing endangered or threatened plants, so we show NatureServe's Wyoming ranks instead. NatureServe: S4, apparently secure in Wyoming.
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 Rocky Mountain fringed gentian in 7 states.

AKMEVTNHWAIDMTNDMNILWIMINYRIMAORNVWYSDIAINOHPANJCTCAUTCONEMOKYWVVAMDDEAZNMKSARTNNCSCDCOKLAMSALGAHITXFL

recorded by USDA PLANTS on our state lists not recorded

See the full list of states

Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Utah, Wyoming.

Wyoming counties with USDA records: Albany, Carbon, Fremont, Lincoln, Park, Sublette, Teton.

Names, range and relatives

Other scientific names (synonyms in USDA PLANTS): Gentiana elegans, Gentianopsis elegans, Gentiana thermalis.

County records: USDA PLANTS lists it in 66 counties across 7 states; the most are in Colorado (28), Utah (17), Wyoming (7).

More from the Gentianaceae family (8 on Bloomipedia; most observed first): Monument plant, Rosepink, Meadow pink, Mountain bog gentian, Parry's gentian, Bottle gentian, Felwort, Broad-petal gentian.

More Wyoming flowers

Monument plant

Frasera speciosa

Native

🌼 Blooms in WY: June–July

Fireweed

Chamaenerion angustifolium

Native

🌼 Blooms in WY: July–August

Sticky geranium

Geranium viscosissimum

Native

🌼 Blooms in WY: June–September

Sources

USDA, NRCS. PLANTS Database, profile GETH.
iNaturalist, Gentianopsis thermalis: taxonomy, research-grade observation counts and “Flowering” annotations, retrieved October 17, 2026.
Wyoming: Wyoming state designated noxious weeds (W.S. 11-5-102(a)(xi)), as listed by the Wyoming Weed & Pest Council.
USFWS, ECOS species database (ESA listing check), October 17, 2026.
NatureServe Explorer, Gentianopsis thermalis (global and state ranks).
Edibility and toxicity: no source found (marked "not well documented").
Photo: Daughter Dad via iNaturalist · CC BY 4.0 · resized.