Flower profile
Rose rush
Lygodesmia aphylla
Rose rush is a wildflower that USDA PLANTS lists as native in the lower 48 states. In Florida it's most often seen in bloom in February–October.
*iNaturalist research-grade observations, as of October 17, 2026.
On our lists for: Florida
Quick look
Lygodesmia aphylla is a species of flowering plant in the family Asteraceae known by the common name rose rush or rushweed. It has white, pink, or lavender flowers. It grows in Florida and Georgia and reaches between 1 and 3 feet tall.
- It belongs to the Asteraceae 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 Florida. NatureServe
- In Florida, most iNaturalist sightings of it in flower come in February–October. iNaturalist
- iNaturalist has 3,785 research-grade sightings of it in Florida, ranking #68 among the 110 flowers on our Florida list. iNaturalist
Rose rush gift ideas
Handmade rose rush 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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Rose rush art print
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Rose rush greeting card
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Rose rush mug
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Rose rush earrings
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Rose rush embroidery pattern
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Rose rush sticker
When does it bloom?
In Florida, most flowering sightings come in February–October.
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
- Florida
- Not listed Not on Florida Regulated Plant Index (Fla. Admin. Code 5B-40.0055). NatureServe: S5, secure in Florida. FAC 5B-40.0055
- Rare elsewhere
- Other states where NatureServe ranks it rare or missing: AL (S1). (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 rose rush in 2 states.
recorded by USDA PLANTS on our state lists not recorded
See the full list of states
Florida, Georgia.
Florida counties with USDA records: Alachua, Brevard, Broward, Calhoun, Charlotte, Citrus, Clay, Collier, DeSoto, Duval, Flagler, Franklin, Gadsden, Gilchrist, Glades, Gulf, Hardee, Hernando, Highlands, Hillsborough, Indian River, Jackson, Lafayette, Lake, Lee, Leon, Levy, Liberty, Manatee, Marion, Martin, Nassau, Okeechobee, Orange, Osceola, Palm Beach, Pasco, Pinellas, Polk, Putnam, Sarasota, Seminole, St. Lucie, Sumter, Suwannee, Taylor, Volusia, Wakulla.
More Florida flowers
Sources
- USDA, NRCS. PLANTS Database, profile LYAP3.
- iNaturalist, Lygodesmia aphylla: taxonomy, research-grade observation counts and “Flowering” annotations, retrieved October 17, 2026.
- Wikipedia, Lygodesmia aphylla (lead quoted under CC BY-SA 4.0).
- Florida: Florida Regulated Plant Index (Fla. Admin. Code 5B-40.0055).
- Florida: Florida Noxious Weed List (Fla. Admin. Code 5B-57.007).
- USFWS, ECOS species database (ESA listing check), October 17, 2026.
- NatureServe Explorer, Lygodesmia aphylla (global and state ranks).
- Edibility and toxicity: no source found (marked "not well documented").
- Photo: Valerie Anderson via iNaturalist · CC BY 4.0 · resized.