Flower profile
Threeleaf foamflower
Tiarella trifoliata
Threeleaf foamflower is a wildflower that USDA PLANTS lists as native in the lower 48 states. It's on our flower lists for 3 states, and across the U.S. it's most often seen in bloom in May–August.
*iNaturalist research-grade observations, as of October 17, 2026.
On our lists for: Alaska, Montana, Washington
Quick look
Tiarella trifoliata, the three-leaf foamflower, is a species of flowering plant in the family Saxifragaceae. The specific name trifoliata means "having three leaflets", a characteristic of two of the three recognized varieties. Also known as the laceflower or sugar-scoop, the species is found in shaded, moist woods in western North America.
- It belongs to the Saxifragaceae 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 6 states. USDA PLANTS
- NatureServe lists it as native to Washington, Alaska and Montana. NatureServe
- In Washington, most iNaturalist sightings of it in flower come in May–August. iNaturalist
- In Alaska, most iNaturalist sightings of it in flower come in June–August. iNaturalist
- iNaturalist has 4,942 research-grade sightings of it in Washington, ranking #27 among the 110 flowers on our Washington list. iNaturalist
- iNaturalist has 1,062 research-grade sightings of it in Alaska, ranking #42 among the 108 flowers on our Alaska list. iNaturalist
- iNaturalist has 566 research-grade sightings of it in Montana, ranking #74 among the 109 flowers on our Montana list. iNaturalist
Threeleaf foamflower gift ideas
Handmade threeleaf foamflower 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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Threeleaf foamflower art print
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Threeleaf foamflower greeting card
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Threeleaf foamflower mug
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Threeleaf foamflower earrings
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Threeleaf foamflower embroidery pattern
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Threeleaf foamflower sticker
When does it bloom?
Bloom time in each of our 3 states
| State | Type | Peak bloom | Sightings* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Washington | Native | May–August | 4,942 |
| Alaska | Native | June–August | 1,062 |
| Montana | Native | June–September | 566 |
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
- Washington
- No list Washington has no state law listing endangered or threatened plants (the Washington Natural Heritage Program's rare plant list isn't regulatory), so we show NatureServe's Washington ranks instead. NatureServe: SNR, not yet ranked in Washington.
- Alaska
- No list Alaska has no state law listing endangered or threatened plants, so we show NatureServe's Alaska ranks instead. NatureServe: S4, apparently secure in Alaska.
- Montana
- No list Montana has no state law listing endangered or threatened plants, so we show NatureServe's Montana ranks instead. NatureServe: S4, apparently secure in Montana.
- 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?
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 threeleaf foamflower in 6 states.
recorded by USDA PLANTS on our state lists not recorded
See the full list of states
Alaska, California, Idaho, Montana, Oregon, Washington.
Washington counties with USDA records: Asotin, Chelan, Clallam, Columbia, Cowlitz, Ferry, Garfield, Grays Harbor, Island, Jefferson, King, Kitsap, Kittitas, Klickitat, Lewis, Mason, Okanogan, Pacific, Pend Oreille, Pierce, San Juan, Skagit, Skamania, Snohomish, Spokane, Stevens, Thurston, Wahkiakum, Walla Walla, Whatcom, Yakima.
Alaska counties with USDA records: Chugach, Copper River, Haines, Juneau, Kenai Peninsula, Ketchikan Gateway, Kodiak Island, Sitka, Yakutat.
Montana counties with USDA records: Flathead, Glacier, Lake, Lincoln, Mineral, Missoula, Sanders.
More Washington flowers
Sources
- USDA, NRCS. PLANTS Database, profile TITR.
- iNaturalist, Tiarella trifoliata: taxonomy, research-grade observation counts and “Flowering” annotations, retrieved October 17, 2026.
- Wikipedia, Tiarella trifoliata (lead quoted under CC BY-SA 4.0).
- Washington: Washington State noxious weed list (WAC 16-750-005, -011, -015).
- Alaska: Alaska prohibited and restricted noxious weeds (11 AAC 34.020).
- Montana: Montana noxious weed list (Admin. R. Mont. 4.5.206–4.5.210).
- USFWS, ECOS species database (ESA listing check), October 17, 2026.
- NatureServe Explorer, Tiarella trifoliata (global and state ranks).
- Edibility and toxicity: no source found (marked "not well documented").
- Photo: Ryan McMinds via iNaturalist · CC BY 4.0 · resized.