Flower profile

Yellow bachelor's button

Senega rugelii

Yellow bachelor's button (Senega rugelii) is a flowering plant in the Polygalaceae family, blooming mostly March–June across the U.S.

Native to Florida

Yellow bachelor's button is a flowering plant. In Florida it's most often seen in bloom in March–June.

–states where USDA records it

4,556FL sightings*

4,556U.S. sightings*

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

On our lists for: Florida

Quick look

Senega rugelii, commonly known as yellow milkwort, is a species of flowering plant in the milkwort family (Polygalaceae). It grows in Florida. An annual it grows up to 30 inches tall and has yellow flowers.
From Wikipedia's article Senega rugelii, CC BY-SA 4.0.

It belongs to the Polygalaceae family. ^iNaturalist
NatureServe lists it as native to Florida. ^NatureServe
In Florida, most iNaturalist sightings of it in flower come in March–June. ^iNaturalist
iNaturalist has 4,556 research-grade sightings of it in Florida, ranking #49 among the 151 flowers on our Florida list. ^iNaturalist

When does it bloom?

In Florida, most flowering sightings come in March–June.

Flowering records by month in Florida (iNaturalist research-grade observations marked “Flowering”) (340 records)

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
Florida: Not listed Not on Florida Regulated Plant Index (Fla. Admin. Code 5B-40.0055). NatureServe: S4, apparently secure in Florida. ^{FAC 5B-40.0055}
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?

For peopleNot well documented

None of the sources we checked (NC State Extension (no page for this plant)) 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 has no state-by-state distribution for this name, so we can't map it yet.

Names, range and relatives

Other Senega on Bloomipedia (4): Orange milkwort, Candyroot, White milkwort, Rootbeer plant.

More from the Polygalaceae family (6 on Bloomipedia; most observed first): Fringed polygala, Showy milkwort.

More Florida flowers

Orange milkwort

Senega lutea

Native

🌼 Blooms in FL: February–May

Candyroot

Senega nana

Native

🌼 Blooms in FL: March–April

Showy milkwort

Asemeia grandiflora

Native

🌼 Blooms in FL: May–June

Sources

USDA PLANTS: no profile matched this name.
iNaturalist, Senega rugelii: taxonomy, research-grade observation counts and “Flowering” annotations, retrieved October 17, 2026.
Wikipedia, Senega rugelii (lead quoted under CC BY-SA 4.0).
Florida: Florida Regulated Plant Index (Fla. Admin. Code 5B-40.0055).
Florida: Florida Noxious Weed List (Fla. Admin. Code 5B-57.007).
USFWS, ECOS species database (ESA listing check), October 17, 2026.
NatureServe Explorer, Senega rugelii (global and state ranks).
Edibility and toxicity: no source found (marked "not well documented").
Photo: Josiah Londerée via iNaturalist · CC BY 4.0 · resized.