Bloomipedia
Threeleaf goldthread (Coptis trifolia)
Photo: Laura J. Costello via iNaturalist · CC BY 4.0 · resized

Flower profile

Threeleaf goldthread

Coptis trifolia

Threeleaf goldthread (Coptis trifolia) is a flowering plant in the Ranunculaceae family, native in the lower 48 states, blooming mostly May–June across the U.S.

Native in the lower 48

Threeleaf goldthread is a wildflower that USDA PLANTS lists as native in the lower 48 states. It's on our flower lists for 4 states, and across the U.S. it's most often seen in bloom in May–June.

20states where USDA records it
4Bloomipedia state lists include it
13,261U.S. sightings*

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

On our lists for: Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Vermont

Quick look

Coptis trifolia, commonly known as the threeleaf goldthread or savoyane, is a perennial plant in the family Ranunculaceae native to North America. A small perennial forb that spreads by slender, creeping rhizomes that are bright golden-yellow in color, hence the common name goldenthread.

  • It belongs to the Ranunculaceae 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 20 states. USDA PLANTS
  • NatureServe lists it as native to New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts and Maine. NatureServe
  • In New Hampshire, most iNaturalist sightings of it in flower come in May–June. iNaturalist
  • In Vermont, most iNaturalist sightings of it in flower come in May–June. iNaturalist
  • iNaturalist has 3,119 research-grade sightings of it in New Hampshire, ranking #11 among the 157 flowers on our New Hampshire list. iNaturalist
  • iNaturalist has 1,713 research-grade sightings of it in Vermont, ranking #46 among the 159 flowers on our Vermont list. iNaturalist
  • iNaturalist has 1,523 research-grade sightings of it in Massachusetts, ranking #99 among the 188 flowers on our Massachusetts list. iNaturalist

When does it bloom?

Flowering records by month across the U.S. (iNaturalist research-grade observations marked “Flowering”) (1,554 records)
Bloom time in the 4 states whose Bloomipedia list includes it
StateTypePeak bloomSightings*
New HampshireNativeMay–June3,119
VermontNativeMay–June1,713
MassachusettsNativeApril–May1,523
MaineNativeMay–June1,504

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
State rare plant lists
Not listed Not on the official rare plant list in 4 of our 4 states.
See each state
New Hampshire
Not listed Not on New Hampshire Official Rare Plants List (Ncr 312, eff. Jan 1, 2020). NatureServe: SNR, not yet ranked in New Hampshire. NH Ncr 312
Vermont
Not listed Not on Endangered and Threatened Plants of Vermont (10 V.S.A. chap. 123; list of Feb 10, 2022). NatureServe: S5, secure in Vermont. Vermont E&T list
Massachusetts
Not listed Not on Massachusetts Endangered Species Act list (321 CMR 10.90). NatureServe: SNR, not yet ranked in Massachusetts. MESA list
Maine
Not listed Not on Maine Rare Plant List (Maine Natural Areas Program, 2021). E and T are Maine's official endangered and threatened plants (12 M.R.S.); SC and PE are tracking categories. NatureServe: SNR, not yet ranked in Maine. Maine rare plant list
Rare elsewhere
Other states where NatureServe ranks it rare or missing: MD (S1), NC (S1), OR (S1), WA (S1), WV (S2). (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), 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 threeleaf goldthread in 20 states.

recorded by USDA PLANTS on our state lists not recorded

See the full list of states

Alaska, Connecticut, Indiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia, Wisconsin.

New Hampshire counties with USDA records: Belknap, Carroll, Cheshire, Coos, Grafton, Hillsborough, Merrimack, Rockingham, Strafford, Sullivan.

Vermont counties with USDA records: Addison, Bennington, Chittenden, Essex, Lamoille, Orange, Orleans, Rutland, Washington, Windham, Windsor.

Massachusetts counties with USDA records: Berkshire, Bristol, Essex, Franklin, Hampden, Hampshire, Middlesex, Nantucket, Norfolk, Plymouth, Suffolk, Worcester.

Names, range and relatives

Native status by region (USDA PLANTS): Alaska: Native; Canada: Native; Greenland: Native; Lower 48 states: Native; St. Pierre and Miquelon: Native.

Other scientific names (synonyms in USDA PLANTS): Coptis groenlandica.

County records: USDA PLANTS lists it in 309 counties across 17 states; the most are in Michigan (74), Pennsylvania (47), New York (43).

Other Coptis on Bloomipedia (1): Spleenwortleaf goldthread.

More from the Ranunculaceae family (48 on Bloomipedia; most observed first): Lesser celandine, Rue anemone, Red columbine, Wood anemone, Western columbine, Marsh marigold, White baneberry, Round-lobed hepatica.

More New Hampshire flowers

Wood anemone (Anemonoides quinquefolia)

Wood anemone

Anemonoides quinquefolia

Native

🌼 Blooms in NH: April–May
Virgin's bower (Clematis virginiana)

Virgin's bower

Clematis virginiana

Native

🌼 Few flowering records in NH
Red columbine (Aquilegia canadensis)

Red columbine

Aquilegia canadensis

Native

🌼 Blooms in NH: May–June

Sources