Flower profile

Yellow salsify

Tragopogon dubius

Yellow salsify (Tragopogon dubius) is a flowering plant in the Asteraceae family, introduced in the lower 48 states, blooming mostly May–July across the U.S.

Introduced in the lower 48

Yellow salsify is a wildflower that USDA PLANTS lists as introduced in the lower 48 states. It's on our flower lists for 10 states, and across the U.S. it's most often seen in bloom in May–July.

45states where USDA records it

10Bloomipedia state lists include it

20,414U.S. sightings*

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

On our lists for: Colorado, Idaho, Kansas, Montana, Nebraska, New Mexico, North Dakota, South Dakota, Utah, Wyoming

Quick look

Tragopogon dubius, commonly known as yellow salsify, is a species of salsify with yellow flower heads. It is native to Eurasia and has been introduced to North America.
From Wikipedia's article Tragopogon dubius, CC BY-SA 4.0.

It belongs to the Asteraceae family. ^iNaturalist
USDA PLANTS describes it as an herb (forb) with a annual, biennial life cycle. ^{USDA PLANTS}
USDA PLANTS lists it as introduced in the lower 48 states and records it in 45 states. ^{USDA PLANTS}
In Colorado, most iNaturalist sightings of it in flower come in May–July. ^iNaturalist
In Montana, most iNaturalist sightings of it in flower come in June–July. ^iNaturalist
USDA PLANTS lists its flower color as yellow. ^{USDA PLANTS}
USDA PLANTS gives its bloom period as mid spring. ^{USDA PLANTS}
USDA PLANTS lists a mature height of about 3 ft. ^{USDA PLANTS}
iNaturalist has 3,057 research-grade sightings of it in Colorado, ranking #46 among the 160 flowers on our Colorado list. ^iNaturalist
iNaturalist has 1,311 research-grade sightings of it in Montana, ranking #17 among the 128 flowers on our Montana list. ^iNaturalist
iNaturalist has 1,114 research-grade sightings of it in Idaho, ranking #16 among the 143 flowers on our Idaho list. ^iNaturalist

When does it bloom?

Flowering records by month across the U.S. (iNaturalist research-grade observations marked “Flowering”) (1,938 records)

Bloom time in the 10 states whose Bloomipedia list includes it

State	Type	Peak bloom	Sightings*
Colorado	Introduced	May–July	3,057
Montana	Introduced	June–July	1,311
Idaho	Introduced	May–July	1,114
Utah	Introduced	May–July	989
New Mexico	Introduced	few records (30)	665
Wyoming	Introduced	few records (35)	632
South Dakota	Introduced	few records (25)	506
Kansas	Introduced	few records (21)	454
Nebraska	Introduced	May–July	433
North Dakota	Introduced	few records (31)	281

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
Colorado: No list Colorado has no state law listing endangered or threatened plants, so we show NatureServe's Colorado ranks instead. NatureServe: SNA, not applicable (usually because it isn't native there) in Colorado.
Montana: No list Montana has no state law listing endangered or threatened plants, so we show NatureServe's Montana ranks instead. NatureServe: SNA, not applicable (usually because it isn't native there) in Montana.
Idaho: No list Idaho has no state law listing endangered or threatened plants, so we show NatureServe's Idaho ranks instead. NatureServe: SNA, not applicable (usually because it isn't native there) in Idaho.
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.
New Mexico: Not listed Not on New Mexico state endangered plant species (19.21.2.9 NMAC). NatureServe: SNA, not applicable (usually because it isn't native there) in New Mexico. ^{19.21.2.9 NMAC}
Wyoming: No list Wyoming has no state law listing endangered or threatened plants, so we show NatureServe's Wyoming ranks instead. NatureServe: SNA, not applicable (usually because it isn't native there) in Wyoming.
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: SNA, not applicable (usually because it isn't native there) in South Dakota.
Kansas: No list Kansas's endangered and threatened list (K.A.R. 115-15-1) covers animals only, so we show NatureServe's Kansas ranks for plants. NatureServe: SNA, not applicable (usually because it isn't native there) in Kansas.
Nebraska: Not listed Not on Nebraska threatened and endangered species (163 Neb. Admin. Code ch. 4, § 004). NatureServe: SNA, not applicable (usually because it isn't native there) in Nebraska. ^{163 NAC 4-004}
North Dakota: No list North Dakota has no state law listing endangered or threatened plants, so we show NatureServe's North Dakota ranks instead. NatureServe: SNA, not applicable (usually because it isn't native there) in North Dakota.
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), 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 yellow salsify in 45 states plus Washington, D.C.

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recorded by USDA PLANTS on our state lists not recorded

See the full list of states

Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin, Wyoming; District of Columbia.

Colorado counties with USDA records: Archuleta, Baca, Bent, Boulder, Cheyenne, Custer, Douglas, Eagle, El Paso, Garfield, Gilpin, Grand, Gunnison, Huerfano, Jackson, Jefferson, La Plata, Larimer, Las Animas, Logan, Mesa, Moffat, Montezuma, Montrose, Otero, Park, Phillips, Pitkin, Pueblo, Rio Blanco, Routt, San Miguel, Summit, Teller, Washington, Weld, Yuma.

Montana counties with USDA records: Beaverhead, Big Horn, Blaine, Broadwater, Carbon, Carter, Cascade, Chouteau, Custer, Daniels, Dawson, Deer Lodge, Fallon, Fergus, Flathead, Gallatin, Garfield, Glacier, Golden Valley, Granite, Hill, Jefferson, Judith Basin, Lake, Lewis and Clark, Liberty, Lincoln, Madison, McCone, Meagher, Mineral, Missoula, Musselshell, Park, Petroleum, Phillips, Pondera, Powder River, Powell, Prairie, Ravalli, Richland, Roosevelt, Rosebud, Sanders, Sheridan, Silver Bow, Stillwater, Sweet Grass, Teton, Toole, Treasure, Valley, Wheatland, Wibaux, Yellowstone.

Idaho counties with USDA records: Ada, Adams, Bannock, Bear Lake, Benewah, Blaine, Boise, Bonner, Bonneville, Butte, Canyon, Caribou, Cassia, Clark, Custer, Elmore, Franklin, Fremont, Gem, Idaho, Jefferson, Latah, Lewis, Lincoln, Nez Perce, Oneida, Owyhee, Payette, Twin Falls, Valley, Washington.

Growing conditions

USDA PLANTS gives Yellow salsify a high shade tolerance, high drought tolerance and low moisture use. It is rated for soil pH 6.5 to 7.5 and winter lows down to -28 °F.

Shade tolerance: High
Drought tolerance: High
Moisture use: Low
Soil textures it is adapted to: coarse, medium, fine
Soil pH range: 6.5 to 7.5
Minimum temperature tolerated: -28 °F
Frost-free days needed (minimum): 160
Annual precipitation range: 6 to 40 inches
Minimum root depth: 6 inches
Salinity tolerance: None
Fertility requirement: Low
Growth rate: Rapid
Active growth period: Spring and Summer
Fruit or seed: Brown · Summer to Fall
Can be propagated by: seed
Commercial availability: No Known Source

From the USDA PLANTS characteristics data for TRDU. USDA ratings are general guidance for the species, not a guarantee for your garden.

Names, range and relatives

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

Other scientific names (synonyms in USDA PLANTS): Tragopogon major.

County records: USDA PLANTS lists it in 1133 counties across 42 states; the most are in Kansas (105), Illinois (70), Michigan (67).

More from the Asteraceae family (212 on Bloomipedia; most observed first): Common yarrow, Goldenrods, White snakeroot, Sunflowers, Chicory, Black-eyed Susan, Bull thistle, Common dandelion.

More Colorado flowers

Rubber rabbitbrush

Ericameria nauseosa

Native

🌼 Blooms in CO: August–October

Common yarrow

Achillea millefolium

Native

🌼 Blooms in CO: June–September

Dotted gayfeather

Liatris punctata

Native

🌼 Blooms in CO: July–September

Sources

USDA, NRCS. PLANTS Database, profile TRDU.
iNaturalist, Tragopogon dubius: taxonomy, research-grade observation counts and “Flowering” annotations, retrieved October 17, 2026.
Wikipedia, Tragopogon dubius (lead quoted under CC BY-SA 4.0).
State rare and invasive plant lists (12):
Show all 12 state lists
USFWS, ECOS species database (ESA listing check), October 17, 2026.
NatureServe Explorer, Tragopogon dubius (global and state ranks).
Edibility and toxicity: no source found (marked "not well documented").
Photo: Rose Zappa via iNaturalist · CC BY 4.0 · resized.