Bloomipedia
Light poppymallow (Callirhoe alcaeoides)
Photo: Emily Geest via iNaturalist · CC BY 4.0 · resized

Flower profile

Light poppymallow

Callirhoe alcaeoides

Native to Kansas

Light poppymallow is a wildflower that USDA PLANTS lists as native in the lower 48 states. In Kansas it's most often seen in bloom in May–June.

18states
298KS sightings*
828U.S. sightings*

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

On our lists for: Kansas

Quick look

  • It belongs to the Malvaceae 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 18 states. USDA PLANTS
  • NatureServe lists it as native to Kansas. NatureServe
  • In Kansas, most iNaturalist sightings of it in flower come in May–June. iNaturalist
  • iNaturalist has 298 research-grade sightings of it in Kansas, ranking #94 among the 109 flowers on our Kansas list. iNaturalist

Light poppymallow gift ideas

Handmade light poppymallow gifts from independent makers.

When does it bloom?

In Kansas, most flowering sightings come in May–June.

Flowering records by month in Kansas (iNaturalist research-grade observations marked “Flowering”) (29 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
G5 Secure worldwide. NatureServe
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: S5, secure in Kansas.
Rare elsewhere
Other states where NatureServe ranks it rare or missing: AL (S2), AR (S1), KY (SX), LA (S1). (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.

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 light poppymallow in 18 states.

recorded by USDA PLANTS on our state lists not recorded

See the full list of states

Alabama, Arkansas, Colorado, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Missouri, Nebraska, New Mexico, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Wisconsin.

Kansas counties with USDA records: Allen, Anderson, Atchison, Barton, Bourbon, Brown, Butler, Chase, Chautauqua, Cherokee, Clay, Cloud, Coffey, Cowley, Crawford, Dickinson, Douglas, Edwards, Elk, Ellsworth, Franklin, Geary, Greenwood, Harper, Harvey, Jackson, Jefferson, Jewell, Johnson, Kingman, Labette, Lincoln, Linn, Lyon, Marion, McPherson, Meade, Miami, Mitchell, Montgomery, Morris, Neosho, Osage, Ottawa, Pottawatomie, Pratt, Reno, Republic, Riley, Saline, Sedgwick, Shawnee, Stafford, Sumner, Wabaunsee, Washington, Wilson, Woodson.

More Kansas flowers

Sources