Bloomipedia
Slimflower scurfpea (Pediomelum tenuiflorum)
Photo: Alexandria Szakacs via iNaturalist · CC BY 4.0 · resized

Flower profile

Slimflower scurfpea

Pediomelum tenuiflorum

Slimflower scurfpea (Pediomelum tenuiflorum) is a flowering plant in the Fabaceae family, blooming mostly May–August across the U.S.

Slimflower scurfpea is a flowering plant. It's on our flower lists for 2 states, and across the U.S. it's most often seen in bloom in May–August.

–states where USDA records it
2Bloomipedia state lists include it
4,629U.S. sightings*

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

On our lists for: Kansas, Oklahoma

Quick look

Pediomelum tenuiflorum, the slimflower scurfpea, is a perennial in the pea family. It is about 2–3 feet (0.6–0.9 m) tall and has a lot of leaves on top. Its leaves can reach a length of 3 inches (80 mm). This flower can be found mainly in the central and southwestern U.S.

  • It belongs to the Fabaceae family. iNaturalist
  • NatureServe lists it as native to Oklahoma and Kansas. NatureServe
  • iNaturalist has 865 research-grade sightings of it in Oklahoma, ranking #32 among the 159 flowers on our Oklahoma list. iNaturalist
  • iNaturalist has 578 research-grade sightings of it in Kansas, ranking #41 among the 151 flowers on our Kansas list. iNaturalist

When does it bloom?

Flowering records by month across the U.S. (iNaturalist research-grade observations marked “Flowering”) (254 records)
Bloom time in the 2 states whose Bloomipedia list includes it
StateTypePeak bloomSightings*
OklahomaNativefew records (26)865
KansasNativefew records (19)578

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
Oklahoma
No list Oklahoma has no state law listing endangered or threatened plants, so we show NatureServe's Oklahoma ranks instead. NatureServe: SNR, not yet ranked in Oklahoma.
Kansas
No list Kansas's endangered and threatened list (K.A.R. 115-15-1) covers animals only, so we show NatureServe's Kansas ranks for plants. NatureServe: S5, secure in Kansas.
Rare elsewhere
Other states where NatureServe ranks it rare or missing: IN (SX), KY (S1), MN (S1), ND (SH), NV (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?

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.

Names, range and relatives

Other Pediomelum on Bloomipedia (2): Silvery scurfpea, Breadroot scurf pea.

More from the Fabaceae family (114 on Bloomipedia; most observed first): Lupines, White clover, Red clover, Eastern redbud, Purple crownvetch, Bird's-foot trefoil, Partridge pea, White sweetclover.

More Oklahoma flowers

Eastern redbud (Cercis canadensis)

Eastern redbud

Cercis canadensis

Native

🌼 Blooms in OK: March–April
White clover (Trifolium repens)

White clover

Trifolium repens

Introduced

🌼 Blooms in OK: March–June
Chinese bushclover (Lespedeza cuneata)

Chinese bushclover

Lespedeza cuneata

Introduced

🌼 Few flowering records in OK

Sources