Flower profile
Snowplant
Sarcodes sanguinea
Snowplant 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 May–July.
*iNaturalist research-grade observations, as of October 17, 2026.
On our lists for: California, Nevada
Quick look
Sarcodes is a monotypic genus of flowering plants in the heath family (Ericaceae) native to northwest North America, containing the single species Sarcodes sanguinea, commonly called the snow plant or snow flower. It is a parasitic plant that derives sustenance and nutrients from mycorrhizal fungi that attach to tree roots. Lacking chlorophyll, it is unable to photosynthesize.
- It belongs to the Ericaceae 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 3 states. USDA PLANTS
- NatureServe lists it as native to California and Nevada. NatureServe
- In California, most iNaturalist sightings of it in flower come in May–July. iNaturalist
- In Nevada, most iNaturalist sightings of it in flower come in May–July. iNaturalist
- iNaturalist has 14,229 research-grade sightings of it in California, ranking #52 among the 110 flowers on our California list. iNaturalist
- iNaturalist has 778 research-grade sightings of it in Nevada, ranking #48 among the 110 flowers on our Nevada list. iNaturalist
Snowplant gift ideas
Handmade snowplant 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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Snowplant art print
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Snowplant greeting card
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Snowplant mug
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Snowplant earrings
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Snowplant embroidery pattern
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Snowplant sticker
When does it bloom?
Bloom time in each of our 2 states
| State | Type | Peak bloom | Sightings* |
|---|---|---|---|
| California | Native | May–July | 14,229 |
| Nevada | Native | May–July | 778 |
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
- California
- Not listed Not on California state-listed endangered, threatened and rare plants (14 CCR § 670.2), per CDFW's CNDDB list (July 2026). NatureServe: SNR, not yet ranked in California. CNDDB listed plants (July 2026)
- Nevada
- Not listed Not on Nevada fully protected plants, critically endangered (NAC 527.010). NatureServe: S3, vulnerable in Nevada. NAC 527.010
- 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.
Please don't pick or dig this flower: NatureServe ranks it S3 in Nevada. NatureServe
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 snowplant in 3 states.
recorded by USDA PLANTS on our state lists not recorded
See the full list of states
California, Nevada, Oregon.
California counties with USDA records: Alpine, Butte, El Dorado, Humboldt, Kern, Lassen, Los Angeles, Mariposa, Mono, Nevada, Placer, Plumas, Riverside, San Bernardino, San Diego, Santa Barbara, Shasta, Sierra, Siskiyou, Tehama, Trinity, Tulare.
Nevada counties with USDA records: Carson City, Douglas, Washoe.
More California flowers
Sources
- USDA, NRCS. PLANTS Database, profile SASA5.
- iNaturalist, Sarcodes sanguinea: taxonomy, research-grade observation counts and “Flowering” annotations, retrieved October 17, 2026.
- Wikipedia, Sarcodes (lead quoted under CC BY-SA 4.0).
- California: California state-listed endangered, threatened and rare plants (14 CCR § 670.2), per CDFW's CNDDB list (July 2026).
- California: California noxious weed species (3 CCR § 4500).
- Nevada: Nevada fully protected plants, critically endangered (NAC 527.010).
- Nevada: Nevada noxious weeds (NAC 555.010).
- USFWS, ECOS species database (ESA listing check), October 17, 2026.
- NatureServe Explorer, Sarcodes sanguinea (global and state ranks).
- Edibility and toxicity: no source found (marked "not well documented").
- Photo: Joey Bom via iNaturalist · CC BY 4.0 · resized.