Bloomipedia
Shortspur seablush (Plectritis congesta)
Photo: Judi Sanders via iNaturalist · CC BY 4.0 · resized

Flower profile

Shortspur seablush

Plectritis congesta

Shortspur seablush (Plectritis congesta) is a flowering plant in the Caprifoliaceae family, native in the lower 48 states, blooming mostly April–June across the U.S.

Native to Oregon

Shortspur seablush is a wildflower that USDA PLANTS lists as native in the lower 48 states. In Oregon it's most often seen in bloom in April–June.

3states where USDA records it
2,526OR sightings*
4,259U.S. sightings*

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

On our lists for: Oregon

Quick look

Valeriana congesta, synonym Plectritis congesta, is a species of flowering plant in the honeysuckle family. It is known by several common names, including shortspur seablush and rosy plectritis. It is native to western North America.

  • It belongs to the Caprifoliaceae 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 3 states. USDA PLANTS
  • NatureServe lists it as native to Oregon. NatureServe
  • In Oregon, most iNaturalist sightings of it in flower come in April–June. iNaturalist
  • iNaturalist has 2,526 research-grade sightings of it in Oregon, ranking #62 among the 184 flowers on our Oregon list. iNaturalist

When does it bloom?

In Oregon, most flowering sightings come in April–June.

Flowering records by month in Oregon (iNaturalist research-grade observations marked “Flowering”) (1,153 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
G5 Secure worldwide. NatureServe
Oregon
Not listed Not on Oregon endangered and threatened plants (OAR 603-073-0070). NatureServe: SNR, not yet ranked in Oregon. OAR 603-073-0070
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 shortspur seablush in 3 states.

recorded by USDA PLANTS on our state lists not recorded

See the full list of states

California, Oregon, Washington.

Oregon counties with USDA records: Benton, Clackamas, Clatsop, Coos, Crook, Curry, Deschutes, Douglas, Harney, Hood River, Jackson, Josephine, Klamath, Lane, Lincoln, Linn, Marion, Multnomah, Polk, Tillamook, Wasco, Washington, Yamhill.

Names, range and relatives

Native status by region (USDA PLANTS): Canada: Native; Lower 48 states: Native.

County records: USDA PLANTS lists it in 64 counties across 3 states; the most are in California (25), Oregon (23), Washington (16).

More from the Caprifoliaceae family (18 on Bloomipedia; most observed first): Amur honeysuckle, Japanese honeysuckle, Wild teasel, Twinberry honeysuckle, Common snowberry, Pink honeysuckle, Coral honeysuckle, Twinflower.

More Oregon flowers

Common snowberry (Symphoricarpos albus)

Common snowberry

Symphoricarpos albus

🌷 Flowering shrub

🌼 Blooms in OR: May–July
Wild teasel (Dipsacus fullonum)

Wild teasel

Dipsacus fullonum

Introduced

🌼 Blooms in OR: July–August
Twinberry honeysuckle (Lonicera involucrata)

Twinberry honeysuckle

Lonicera involucrata

Native

🌼 Blooms in OR: April–July

Sources