Flower profile
Goutweed
Aegopodium podagraria
Goutweed is a wildflower that USDA PLANTS lists as introduced in the lower 48 states. It's on our flower lists for 3 states, and across the U.S. it's most often seen in bloom in May–July.
*iNaturalist research-grade observations, as of October 17, 2026.
On our lists for: New York, Pennsylvania, Vermont
Quick look
Aegopodium podagraria, commonly called ground elder, is a species of flowering plant in the carrot family Apiaceae that grows in shady places. The name "ground elder" comes from the superficial similarity of its leaves and flowers to those of elder (Sambucus), which is not closely related.
- It belongs to the Apiaceae family. iNaturalist
- USDA PLANTS describes it as an herb (forb) with a perennial life cycle. USDA PLANTS
- USDA PLANTS lists it as introduced in the lower 48 states and records it in 29 states. USDA PLANTS
- NatureServe lists it as not native to New York, Pennsylvania and Vermont. NatureServe
- In New York, most iNaturalist sightings of it in flower come in May–July. iNaturalist
- In Pennsylvania, most iNaturalist sightings of it in flower come in May–June. iNaturalist
- iNaturalist has 2,496 research-grade sightings of it in New York, ranking #96 among the 109 flowers on our New York list. iNaturalist
- iNaturalist has 2,307 research-grade sightings of it in Pennsylvania, ranking #89 among the 111 flowers on our Pennsylvania list. iNaturalist
- iNaturalist has 1,813 research-grade sightings of it in Vermont, ranking #40 among the 110 flowers on our Vermont list. iNaturalist
State flower gift ideas
This one is a regulated invasive plant, so here are state flower gifts instead.
🌱 Sample spot. Handmade gift picks from independent shops will appear here once our shop partnership is approved. These cards are placeholders, not real products.
-
Placeholder
State flower print
-
Placeholder
Birth-flower necklace
-
Placeholder
Wildflower seed favors
-
Placeholder
Botanical tea towel
-
Placeholder
Pressed-flower frame
-
Placeholder
Flower-garden mug
When does it bloom?
Bloom time in each of our 3 states
| State | Type | Peak bloom | Sightings* |
|---|---|---|---|
| New York | Introduced | May–July | 2,496 |
| Pennsylvania | Introduced | May–June | 2,307 |
| Vermont | Introduced | June–July | 1,813 |
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
- New York
- Not listed Not on New York protected native plants (6 NYCRR § 193.3). NatureServe: SNA, not applicable (usually because it isn't native there) in New York. 6 NYCRR § 193.3
- Pennsylvania
- Not listed Not on Pennsylvania classified native plants (17 Pa. Code Ch. 45, Subchapter B, as amended 2023). NatureServe: SNA, not applicable (usually because it isn't native there) in Pennsylvania. 17 Pa. Code Ch. 45
- Vermont
- Not listed Not on Endangered and Threatened Plants of Vermont (10 V.S.A. chap. 123; list of Feb 10, 2022). NatureServe: SNA, not applicable (usually because it isn't native there) in Vermont. Vermont E&T list
- 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?
NC State Extension notes: “The leaves can be eaten both raw or cooked. For best flavor, harvest before the plant flowers. They can be used in soups, salads, or eaten as a vegetable.” 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 goutweed in 29 states plus Washington, D.C.
recorded by USDA PLANTS on our state lists not recorded
See the full list of states
Connecticut, Delaware, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin; District of Columbia.
New York counties with USDA records: Albany, Bronx, Chemung, Erie, Essex, Kings, Livingston, Nassau, New York, Orange, Putnam, Queens, Rensselaer, Richmond, Schoharie, Suffolk, Tioga, Ulster, Westchester.
Pennsylvania counties with USDA records: Allegheny, Bedford, Berks, Blair, Bucks, Centre, Chester, Clearfield, Columbia, Dauphin, Delaware, Erie, Huntingdon, Lackawanna, Lancaster, Lehigh, McKean, Monroe, Montgomery, Northampton, Philadelphia, Schuylkill, Sullivan, Warren.
Vermont counties with USDA records: Bennington, Caledonia, Chittenden, Lamoille, Washington, Windham.
More New York flowers
Sources
- USDA, NRCS. PLANTS Database, profile AEPO.
- iNaturalist, Aegopodium podagraria: taxonomy, research-grade observation counts and “Flowering” annotations, retrieved October 17, 2026.
- Wikipedia, Aegopodium podagraria (lead quoted under CC BY-SA 4.0).
- New York: New York protected native plants (6 NYCRR § 193.3).
- New York: New York prohibited and regulated invasive species (6 NYCRR Part 575).
- Pennsylvania: Pennsylvania classified native plants (17 Pa. Code Ch. 45, Subchapter B, as amended 2023).
- Pennsylvania: Pennsylvania Noxious Weed List (3 Pa.C.S. § 1519, PA Dept. of Agriculture) (PDA's page spells garlic mustard “Allaria petiolata”; we match it as Alliaria petiolata).
- Vermont: Endangered and Threatened Plants of Vermont (10 V.S.A. chap. 123; list of Feb 10, 2022).
- Vermont: Vermont Quarantine List, Regulated Introduced Plant Species Rule (eff. June 16, 2026).
- USFWS, ECOS species database (ESA listing check), October 17, 2026.
- NatureServe Explorer, Aegopodium podagraria (global and state ranks).
- Edibility and toxicity: NC State Extension.
- Photo: er-birds via iNaturalist · CC BY 4.0 · resized.