Flower profile
Thyme-leaved bluet
Houstonia serpyllifolia
Thyme-leaved bluet is a wildflower that USDA PLANTS lists as native in the lower 48 states. In North Carolina it's most often seen in bloom in April–July.
*iNaturalist research-grade observations, as of October 17, 2026.
On our lists for: North Carolina
Quick look
Houstonia serpyllifolia, commonly called thymeleaf bluet, creeping bluet, mountain bluet, Appalachian bluet or Michaux's bluets is a species of plant in the coffee family (Rubiaceae). It is native to the eastern United States, where it is found in the central and southern Appalachian Mountains.
- It belongs to the Rubiaceae 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 9 states. USDA PLANTS
- NatureServe lists it as native to North Carolina. NatureServe
- In North Carolina, most iNaturalist sightings of it in flower come in April–July. iNaturalist
- iNaturalist has 2,006 research-grade sightings of it in North Carolina, ranking #87 among the 111 flowers on our North Carolina list. iNaturalist
Thyme-leaved bluet gift ideas
Handmade thyme-leaved bluet 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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Thyme-leaved bluet art print
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Thyme-leaved bluet greeting card
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Thyme-leaved bluet mug
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Thyme-leaved bluet earrings
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Thyme-leaved bluet embroidery pattern
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Thyme-leaved bluet sticker
When does it bloom?
In North Carolina, most flowering sightings come in April–July.
Conservation status
- Federal (U.S. ESA)
- Not listed No U.S. Endangered Species Act listing in the USFWS ECOS database. USFWS ECOS
- NatureServe global
- G4 Apparently secure worldwide. NatureServe
- North Carolina
- Not listed Not on North Carolina Protected Plant Species List (02 NCAC 48F .0301). NatureServe: S3, vulnerable in North Carolina. 02 NCAC 48F .0301
- Rare elsewhere
- Other states where NatureServe ranks it rare or missing: KY (S1), PA (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.
Please don't pick or dig this flower: NatureServe ranks it S3 in North Carolina. 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 thyme-leaved bluet in 9 states.
recorded by USDA PLANTS on our state lists not recorded
See the full list of states
Georgia, Kentucky, Maryland, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia.
North Carolina counties with USDA records: Alleghany, Avery, Buncombe, Burke, Caldwell, Cherokee, Clay, Haywood, Henderson, Jackson, Macon, McDowell, Mitchell, Rowan, Swain, Transylvania, Watauga, Yancey.
More North Carolina flowers
Sources
- USDA, NRCS. PLANTS Database, profile HOSE2.
- iNaturalist, Houstonia serpyllifolia: taxonomy, research-grade observation counts and “Flowering” annotations, retrieved October 17, 2026.
- Wikipedia, Houstonia serpyllifolia (lead quoted under CC BY-SA 4.0).
- North Carolina: North Carolina Protected Plant Species List (02 NCAC 48F .0301).
- North Carolina: North Carolina Noxious Weed List (02 NCAC 48A .1702) (the list names any non-native Lythrum; we apply it to purple loosestrife (Lythrum salicaria), which isn't native).
- USFWS, ECOS species database (ESA listing check), October 17, 2026.
- NatureServe Explorer, Houstonia serpyllifolia (global and state ranks).
- Edibility and toxicity: no source found (marked "not well documented").
- Photo: Michael J. Papay via iNaturalist · CC BY 4.0 · resized.