Bloomipedia
Virginia waterleaf (Hydrophyllum virginianum)
Photo: Bruce Cook via iNaturalist · CC0 · resized

Flower profile

Virginia waterleaf

Hydrophyllum virginianum

Virginia waterleaf (Hydrophyllum virginianum) is a flowering plant in the Boraginaceae family, native in the lower 48 states, blooming mostly May–June across the U.S.

Native in the lower 48

Virginia waterleaf is a wildflower that USDA PLANTS lists as native in the lower 48 states. It's on our flower lists for 7 states, and across the U.S. it's most often seen in bloom in May–June.

29states where USDA records it
7Bloomipedia state lists include it
23,696U.S. sightings*

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

On our lists for: Illinois, Iowa, Minnesota, Nebraska, South Dakota, Vermont, Wisconsin

Quick look

Hydrophyllum virginianum, commonly called Virginia waterleaf or eastern waterleaf, is an herbaceous perennial plant native to Eastern North America where it is primarily found in the Midwest, Northeast, and Appalachian regions. The genus Hydrophyllum is placed in the family Hydrophyllaceae.

  • It belongs to the Boraginaceae 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 29 states. USDA PLANTS
  • In Minnesota, most iNaturalist sightings of it in flower come in May–June. iNaturalist
  • In Wisconsin, most iNaturalist sightings of it in flower come in May–June. iNaturalist
  • iNaturalist has 4,860 research-grade sightings of it in Minnesota, ranking #6 among the 152 flowers on our Minnesota list. iNaturalist
  • iNaturalist has 3,874 research-grade sightings of it in Wisconsin, ranking #19 among the 161 flowers on our Wisconsin list. iNaturalist
  • iNaturalist has 3,467 research-grade sightings of it in Illinois, ranking #36 among the 180 flowers on our Illinois list. iNaturalist

When does it bloom?

Flowering records by month across the U.S. (iNaturalist research-grade observations marked “Flowering”) (1,701 records)
Bloom time in the 7 states whose Bloomipedia list includes it
StateTypePeak bloomSightings*
MinnesotaNativeMay–June4,860
WisconsinNativeMay–June3,874
IllinoisNativeMay–June3,467
VermontNativeMay–June986
IowaNativeMay799
NebraskaNativefew records (9)224
South DakotaNativefew records (11)208

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 6 of our 7 states.
See each state
Minnesota
Not listed Not on Minnesota endangered, threatened and special concern plants (Minn. R. 6134.0300). NatureServe: SNR, not yet ranked in Minnesota. Minn. R. 6134.0300
Wisconsin
Not listed Not on Wisconsin endangered and threatened species list (Wis. Admin. Code NR 27.03). NatureServe: SNR, not yet ranked in Wisconsin. NR 27.03
Illinois
Not listed Not on Illinois List of Endangered and Threatened Flora (17 Ill. Adm. Code 1050), per the Endangered Species Protection Board's 2025 checklist. NatureServe: SNR, not yet ranked in Illinois. IL E&T checklist 2025
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
Iowa
Not listed Not on Iowa endangered, threatened and special concern plants (Iowa Admin. Code r. 571-77.3). NatureServe: S5, secure in Iowa. IAC 571-77.3
Nebraska
Not listed Not on Nebraska threatened and endangered species (163 Neb. Admin. Code ch. 4, § 004). NatureServe: SNR, not yet ranked in Nebraska. 163 NAC 4-004
South Dakota
No list South Dakota's endangered and threatened list (ARSD 41:10:02) covers animals only, so we show NatureServe's South Dakota ranks for plants. NatureServe: SNR, not yet ranked in South Dakota.
Rare elsewhere
Other states where NatureServe ranks it rare or missing: NH (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 peopleEdible (per NC State Extension)

NC State Extension notes: “Young leaves and shoots are edible and can be added to salads.” NC State Extension

For petsNot well documented

It isn't on the ASPCA plant list, and NC State Extension doesn't flag it for pets.

🌿 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 Virginia waterleaf in 29 states plus Washington, D.C.

recorded by USDA PLANTS on our state lists not recorded

See the full list of states

Alabama, Arkansas, Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Dakota, Tennessee, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia, Wisconsin; District of Columbia.

Minnesota counties with USDA records: Aitkin, Anoka, Big Stone, Blue Earth, Brown, Carver, Cass, Chippewa, Chisago, Clay, Clearwater, Cottonwood, Dakota, Dodge, Douglas, Faribault, Fillmore, Goodhue, Grant, Hennepin, Houston, Itasca, Jackson, Kanabec, Kandiyohi, Lac qui Parle, Le Sueur, Lincoln, Lyon, Martin, Meeker, Mille Lacs, Morrison, Mower, Murray, Nicollet, Norman, Olmsted, Otter Tail, Pine, Pipestone, Polk, Pope, Ramsey, Red Lake, Redwood, Renville, Rice, Rock, Scott, Sherburne, Sibley, St. Louis, Stearns, Stevens, Todd, Traverse, Wabasha, Waseca, Washington, Watonwan, Winona, Wright.

Wisconsin counties with USDA records: Adams, Barron, Brown, Buffalo, Calumet, Chippewa, Clark, Crawford, Dane, Dodge, Door, Douglas, Dunn, Florence, Fond du Lac, Forest, Grant, Green, Iowa, Jackson, Jefferson, Kenosha, Kewaunee, La Crosse, Lafayette, Langlade, Lincoln, Manitowoc, Marathon, Marinette, Menominee, Milwaukee, Monroe, Oconto, Oneida, Outagamie, Ozaukee, Pepin, Pierce, Polk, Portage, Price, Racine, Richland, Rock, Rusk, Sauk, Sawyer, Shawano, Sheboygan, St. Croix, Taylor, Trempealeau, Vernon, Walworth, Washburn, Washington, Waukesha, Waupaca, Winnebago, Wood.

Illinois counties with USDA records: Adams, Alexander, Boone, Brown, Bureau, Carroll, Cass, Champaign, Christian, Clark, Coles, Cook, Cumberland, De Witt, DeKalb, Douglas, DuPage, Edgar, Effingham, Fayette, Ford, Fulton, Greene, Grundy, Hancock, Iroquois, Jackson, Jasper, Jo Daviess, Johnson, Kane, Kankakee, Kendall, Knox, LaSalle, Lake, Lawrence, Lee, Livingston, Logan, Macon, Macoupin, Marshall, Mason, McDonough, McHenry, McLean, Menard, Mercer, Morgan, Moultrie, Ogle, Peoria, Piatt, Pike, Pope, Putnam, Richland, Rock Island, Saline, Sangamon, Schuyler, Scott, Shelby, St. Clair, Stark, Stephenson, Union, Vermilion, Wabash, Will, Winnebago.

Names, range and relatives

Native status by region (USDA PLANTS): Canada: Native; Lower 48 states: Native.

County records: USDA PLANTS lists it in 773 counties across 27 states; the most are in Missouri (84), Illinois (72), Ohio (68).

Other Hydrophyllum on Bloomipedia (3): Great waterleaf, Pacific waterleaf, Ballhead waterleaf.

More from the Boraginaceae family (42 on Bloomipedia; most observed first): Virginia bluebells, Pacific hound's tongue, Distant phacelia, Alkali heliotrope, Virginia stickseed, Wild comfrey, Menzies' baby blue eyes, California yerba santa.

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Sources