Bloomipedia
Rose pogonia (Pogonia ophioglossoides)
Photo: Laura J. Costello via iNaturalist · CC BY 4.0 · resized

Flower profile

Rose pogonia

Pogonia ophioglossoides

Rose pogonia (Pogonia ophioglossoides) is a flowering plant in the Orchidaceae family, native in the lower 48 states, blooming mostly April–July across the U.S.

Native in the lower 48

Rose pogonia is a wildflower 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 April–July.

33states where USDA records it
2Bloomipedia state lists include it
6,549U.S. sightings*

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

On our lists for: Maine, New Hampshire

Quick look

Pogonia ophioglossoides, also known the snakemouth orchid, adder's tongue or rose pogonia, is a species of orchid occurring from central Canada to the east-central and eastern United States. This species occurs in wet habitats. It is the type species of the genus Pogonia, and is the only species of its genus native to North America.

  • It belongs to the Orchidaceae 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 33 states. USDA PLANTS
  • NatureServe lists it as native to Maine and New Hampshire. NatureServe
  • In Maine, most iNaturalist sightings of it in flower come in June–July. iNaturalist
  • In New Hampshire, most iNaturalist sightings of it in flower come in June–July. iNaturalist
  • iNaturalist has 748 research-grade sightings of it in Maine, ranking #96 among the 160 flowers on our Maine list. iNaturalist
  • iNaturalist has 304 research-grade sightings of it in New Hampshire, ranking #93 among the 157 flowers on our New Hampshire list. iNaturalist

When does it bloom?

Flowering records by month across the U.S. (iNaturalist research-grade observations marked “Flowering”) (990 records)
Bloom time in the 2 states whose Bloomipedia list includes it
StateTypePeak bloomSightings*
MaineNativeJune–July748
New HampshireNativeJune–July304

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
Maine
Not listed Not on Maine Rare Plant List (Maine Natural Areas Program, 2021). E and T are Maine's official endangered and threatened plants (12 M.R.S.); SC and PE are tracking categories. NatureServe: SNR, not yet ranked in Maine. Maine rare plant list
New Hampshire
Not listed Not on New Hampshire Official Rare Plants List (Ncr 312, eff. Jan 1, 2020). NatureServe: SNR, not yet ranked in New Hampshire. NH Ncr 312
Rare elsewhere
Other states where NatureServe ranks it rare or missing: AR (S2), DC (SX), DE (S2), IL (S1), KY (S1), MO (S1), ND (S1), OH (S2), OK (S1), TN (S2), WV (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?

For peopleNot well documented

None of the sources we checked (NC State Extension (no edibility or poison notes on its page), USDA PLANTS) say whether it's edible or poisonous for people. NC State Extension

For petsNot well documented

It isn't on the ASPCA plant list, and NC State Extension doesn't flag it for pets.

🌿 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 rose pogonia in 33 states plus Washington, D.C.

recorded by USDA PLANTS on our state lists not recorded

See the full list of states

Alabama, Arkansas, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia, Wisconsin; District of Columbia.

Maine counties with USDA records: Androscoggin, Aroostook, Cumberland, Franklin, Hancock, Kennebec, Knox, Lincoln, Oxford, Penobscot, Sagadahoc, Somerset, Waldo, Washington, York.

New Hampshire counties with USDA records: Belknap, Carroll, Cheshire, Coos, Grafton, Hillsborough, Merrimack, Rockingham, Strafford.

Names, range and relatives

Native status by region (USDA PLANTS): Canada: Native; Lower 48 states: Native; St. Pierre and Miquelon: Native.

County records: USDA PLANTS lists it in 478 counties across 33 states; the most are in Michigan (49), New York (48), Florida (45).

More from the Orchidaceae family (23 on Bloomipedia; most observed first): Pink lady's slipper, Crane-fly orchid, Downy rattlesnake plantain, Broad-leaved helleborine, Western rattlesnake plantain, Spotted coralroot, Showy orchis, Putty root.

More Maine flowers

Pink lady's slipper (Cypripedium acaule)

Pink lady's slipper

Cypripedium acaule

★ NH state wildflowerNative

🌼 Blooms in ME: May–June
Broad-leaved helleborine (Epipactis helleborine)

Broad-leaved helleborine

Epipactis helleborine

Introduced

🌼 Blooms in ME: July–August
Roses (genus Rosa) (Rosa)

Roses (genus Rosa)

Rosa

★ NY state flower🌷 Garden flower

🌼 Blooms in ME: June–August

Sources