Flower profile
Woad
Isatis tinctoria
Woad (Isatis tinctoria) is a flowering plant in the Brassicaceae family, introduced in the lower 48 states, blooming mostly April–June across the U.S.
Woad is a wildflower that USDA PLANTS lists as introduced in the lower 48 states. In Utah it's most often seen in bloom in April–June.
*iNaturalist research-grade observations, as of October 17, 2026.
On our lists for: Utah
Quick look
Isatis tinctoria, also called woad, dyer's woad, dyer's-weed, or glastum, is a flowering plant in the family Brassicaceae with a documented history of use as a blue dye and medicinal plant. The double use of woad is seen in its name: the term Isatis is linked to its ancient use to treat wounds; the term tinctoria references its use as a dye. It is occasionally known as Asp of Jerusalem.
- It belongs to the Brassicaceae family. iNaturalist
- USDA PLANTS describes it as an herb (forb) with a biennial, perennial life cycle. USDA PLANTS
- USDA PLANTS lists it as introduced in the lower 48 states and records it in 15 states. USDA PLANTS
- NatureServe lists it as not native to Utah. NatureServe
- In Utah, most iNaturalist sightings of it in flower come in April–June. iNaturalist
- iNaturalist has 1,015 research-grade sightings of it in Utah, ranking #51 among the 153 flowers on our Utah list. iNaturalist
When does it bloom?
In Utah, most flowering sightings come in April–June.
Conservation status
- Federal (U.S. ESA)
- Not listed No U.S. Endangered Species Act listing in the USFWS ECOS database. USFWS ECOS
- NatureServe global
- GNR Not yet ranked worldwide. NatureServe
- Utah
- No list Utah has no state law listing endangered or threatened plants, so we show NatureServe's Utah ranks instead. NatureServe: SNA, not applicable (usually because it isn't native there) in Utah.
- 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 edibility or poison notes on its page), USDA PLANTS) say whether it's edible or poisonous for people. NC State Extension
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 woad in 15 states plus Washington, D.C.
recorded by USDA PLANTS on our state lists not recorded
See the full list of states
California, Colorado, Idaho, Illinois, Montana, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Oregon, Utah, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wyoming; District of Columbia.
Utah counties with USDA records: Box Elder, Cache, Daggett, Davis, Duchesne, Juab, Millard, Morgan, Rich, Salt Lake, Sanpete, Summit, Uintah, Utah, Weber.
Names, range and relatives
Native status by region (USDA PLANTS): Canada: Waif (occasional, not established); Lower 48 states: Introduced.
County records: USDA PLANTS lists it in 123 counties across 15 states; the most are in Idaho (28), California (25), Utah (15).
More from the Brassicaceae family (24 on Bloomipedia; most observed first): Garlic mustard, Dame's rocket, Cut-leaved toothwort, Wild radish, Milkmaids, Annual honesty, Western wallflower, Hoary alyssum.
More Utah flowers
Sources
- USDA, NRCS. PLANTS Database, profile ISTI.
- iNaturalist, Isatis tinctoria: taxonomy, research-grade observation counts and “Flowering” annotations, retrieved October 17, 2026.
- Wikipedia, Isatis tinctoria (lead quoted under CC BY-SA 4.0).
- Utah: Utah noxious weed list (Utah Admin. Code R68-9-3).
- USFWS, ECOS species database (ESA listing check), October 17, 2026.
- NatureServe Explorer, Isatis tinctoria (global and state ranks).
- Edibility and toxicity: NC State Extension.
- Photo: jonsense via iNaturalist · CC BY 4.0 · resized.