Flower profile

Western rattlesnake plantain

Goodyera oblongifolia

Western rattlesnake plantain (Goodyera oblongifolia) is a flowering plant in the Orchidaceae family, native in the lower 48 states, blooming mostly July–September across the U.S.

Native in the lower 48

Western rattlesnake plantain is a wildflower that USDA PLANTS lists as native in the lower 48 states. It's on our flower lists for 5 states, and across the U.S. it's most often seen in bloom in July–September.

16states where USDA records it

5Bloomipedia state lists include it

17,458U.S. sightings*

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

On our lists for: Idaho, Montana, Oregon, Washington, Wyoming

Quick look

Goodyera oblongifolia is a species of orchid known by the common names western rattlesnake plantain and giant rattlesnake plantain. It is native to much of North America, particularly in the mountains of the western United States and Canada, from Alaska to northern Mexico, as well as in the Great Lakes region, Maine, Quebec and the Canadian Maritime Provinces.
From Wikipedia's article Goodyera oblongifolia, CC BY-SA 4.0.

It belongs to the Orchidaceae 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 16 states. ^{USDA PLANTS}
NatureServe lists it as native to Washington, Oregon, Montana, Idaho and Wyoming. ^NatureServe
In Washington, most iNaturalist sightings of it in flower come in July–August. ^iNaturalist
In Oregon, most iNaturalist sightings of it in flower come in July–August. ^iNaturalist
iNaturalist has 5,827 research-grade sightings of it in Washington, ranking #22 among the 187 flowers on our Washington list. ^iNaturalist
iNaturalist has 3,577 research-grade sightings of it in Oregon, ranking #43 among the 184 flowers on our Oregon list. ^iNaturalist
iNaturalist has 992 research-grade sightings of it in Montana, ranking #27 among the 128 flowers on our Montana list. ^iNaturalist

When does it bloom?

Flowering records by month across the U.S. (iNaturalist research-grade observations marked “Flowering”) (624 records)

Bloom time in the 5 states whose Bloomipedia list includes it

State	Type	Peak bloom	Sightings*
Washington	Native	July–August	5,827
Oregon	Native	July–August	3,577
Montana	Native	few records (16)	992
Idaho	Native	few records (9)	489
Wyoming	Native	few records (11)	303

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.
Oregon: Not listed Not on Oregon endangered and threatened plants (OAR 603-073-0070). NatureServe: SNR, not yet ranked in Oregon. ^{OAR 603-073-0070}
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.
Idaho: No list Idaho has no state law listing endangered or threatened plants, so we show NatureServe's Idaho ranks instead. NatureServe: SNR, not yet ranked in Idaho.
Wyoming: No list Wyoming has no state law listing endangered or threatened plants, so we show NatureServe's Wyoming ranks instead. NatureServe: S3, vulnerable in Wyoming.
Rare elsewhere: Other states where NatureServe ranks it rare or missing: ME (S1), NE (S1), VT (SH). (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 leave it where it grows

Please don't pick or dig this flower: NatureServe ranks it S3 in Wyoming. ^NatureServe

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 Western rattlesnake plantain in 16 states.

AKMEVTNHWAIDMTNDMNILWIMINYRIMAORNVWYSDIAINOHPANJCTCAUTCONEMOKYWVVAMDDEAZNMKSARTNNCSCDCOKLAMSALGAHITXFL

recorded by USDA PLANTS on our state lists not recorded

See the full list of states

Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Idaho, Maine, Michigan, Montana, Nebraska, New Mexico, Oregon, South Dakota, Utah, Washington, Wisconsin, Wyoming.

Washington counties with USDA records: Chelan, Clallam, Columbia, Cowlitz, Island, Jefferson, King, Kitsap, Kittitas, Klickitat, Lewis, Mason, Okanogan, Pacific, Pend Oreille, Pierce, San Juan, Skagit, Skamania, Snohomish, Stevens, Thurston, Walla Walla, Whatcom, Whitman, Yakima.

Oregon counties with USDA records: Baker, Benton, Clackamas, Clatsop, Coos, Curry, Deschutes, Douglas, Grant, Hood River, Jackson, Jefferson, Josephine, Klamath, Lake, Lane, Lincoln, Linn, Marion, Multnomah, Polk, Tillamook, Umatilla, Union, Wallowa, Wasco, Washington, Wheeler.

Montana counties with USDA records: Beaverhead, Flathead, Gallatin, Lake, Park, Phillips, Sanders.

Names, range and relatives

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

Other scientific names (synonyms in USDA PLANTS): Goodyera decipiens, Peramium decipiens, Peramium menziesii.

County records: USDA PLANTS lists it in 192 counties across 15 states; the most are in California (30), Oregon (28), Washington (26).

Other Goodyera on Bloomipedia (2): Downy rattlesnake plantain, Checkered rattlesnake plantain.

More from the Orchidaceae family (23 on Bloomipedia; most observed first): Pink lady's slipper, Crane-fly orchid, Broad-leaved helleborine, Spotted coralroot, Showy orchis, Putty root, White bog orchid, Yellow lady's slipper.

More Washington flowers

Spotted coralroot

Corallorhiza maculata

Native

🌼 Blooms in WA: May–June

Pacific coralroot

Corallorhiza mertensiana

Native

🌼 Blooms in WA: June–July

Salmonberry

Rubus spectabilis

Native

🌼 Blooms in WA: March–May

Sources

USDA, NRCS. PLANTS Database, profile GOOB2.
iNaturalist, Goodyera oblongifolia: taxonomy, research-grade observation counts and “Flowering” annotations, retrieved October 17, 2026.
Wikipedia, Goodyera oblongifolia (lead quoted under CC BY-SA 4.0).
Washington: Washington State noxious weed list (WAC 16-750-005, -011, -015).
Oregon: Oregon endangered and threatened plants (OAR 603-073-0070).
Oregon: Oregon noxious weed quarantine, A and B weeds (OAR 603-052-1200).
Montana: Montana noxious weed list (Admin. R. Mont. 4.5.206–4.5.210).
Idaho: Idaho noxious weeds (IDAPA 02.06.09, Section 220).
Wyoming: Wyoming state designated noxious weeds (W.S. 11-5-102(a)(xi)), as listed by the Wyoming Weed & Pest Council.
USFWS, ECOS species database (ESA listing check), October 17, 2026.
NatureServe Explorer, Goodyera oblongifolia (global and state ranks).
Edibility and toxicity: no source found (marked "not well documented").
Photo: Craig Martin via iNaturalist · CC0 · resized.