Flower profile

Rocky mountain marsh-marigold

Caltha chionophila

Native to Colorado

Rocky mountain marsh-marigold is a flowering plant. In Colorado it's most often seen in bloom in May–August.

–states

3,064CO sightings*

3,508U.S. sightings*

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

On our lists for: Colorado

Quick look

It belongs to the Ranunculaceae family. ^iNaturalist
NatureServe lists it as native to Colorado. ^NatureServe
In Colorado, most iNaturalist sightings of it in flower come in May–August. ^iNaturalist
iNaturalist has 3,064 research-grade sightings of it in Colorado, ranking #45 among the 110 flowers on our Colorado list. ^iNaturalist

Rocky mountain marsh-marigold gift ideas

Handmade rocky mountain marsh-marigold 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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Rocky mountain marsh-marigold art print
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Rocky mountain marsh-marigold mug
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Rocky mountain marsh-marigold earrings
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Rocky mountain marsh-marigold embroidery pattern
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Rocky mountain marsh-marigold sticker
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When does it bloom?

In Colorado, most flowering sightings come in May–August.

Flowering records by month in Colorado (iNaturalist research-grade observations marked “Flowering”) (525 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: GNR Not yet ranked worldwide. ^NatureServe
Colorado: No list Colorado has no state law listing endangered or threatened plants, so we show NatureServe's Colorado ranks instead. NatureServe: S5, secure in Colorado.
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)) 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 has no state-by-state distribution for this name, so we can't map it yet.

More Colorado flowers

Blue columbine

Aquilegia coerulea

★ CO state flowerNative

🌼 Blooms in CO: June–August

Prairie pasqueflower

Pulsatilla nuttalliana

★ SD state floral emblemNative

🌼 Blooms in CO: March–June

Columbian monkshood

Aconitum columbianum

Native

🌼 Blooms in CO: July–August

Sources

USDA PLANTS: no profile matched this name.
iNaturalist, Caltha chionophila: taxonomy, research-grade observation counts and “Flowering” annotations, retrieved October 17, 2026.
Colorado: Colorado noxious weed lists A, B and C (8 CCR 1206-2, eff. May 15, 2025).
USFWS, ECOS species database (ESA listing check), October 17, 2026.
NatureServe Explorer, Caltha chionophila (global and state ranks).
Edibility and toxicity: no source found (marked "not well documented").
Photo: Bob Walker via iNaturalist · CC BY 4.0 · resized.