
Flower profile
Pacific coralroot
Corallorhiza mertensiana
Pacific coralroot is a wildflower that USDA PLANTS lists as native 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–August.
*iNaturalist research-grade observations, as of October 17, 2026.
On our lists for: Alaska, Washington, Wyoming
Quick look
Corallorhiza mertensiana, or Pacific coralroot, is a coralroot orchid native to the shady conifer forests of northwestern North America. It also goes by the common names Western coralroot and Mertens' coralroot. Corallorhiza mertensiana was previously considered a subspecies of Corallorhiza maculata but was given species rank in 1997 by Freudenstein.
- It belongs to the Orchidaceae 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 7 states. USDA PLANTS
- NatureServe lists it as native to Washington, Wyoming and Alaska. NatureServe
- In Washington, most iNaturalist sightings of it in flower come in May–August. iNaturalist
- In Wyoming, most iNaturalist sightings of it in flower come in June–July. iNaturalist
- iNaturalist has 1,988 research-grade sightings of it in Washington, ranking #97 among the 110 flowers on our Washington list. iNaturalist
- iNaturalist has 525 research-grade sightings of it in Wyoming, ranking #54 among the 107 flowers on our Wyoming list. iNaturalist
- iNaturalist has 451 research-grade sightings of it in Alaska, ranking #97 among the 108 flowers on our Alaska list. iNaturalist
Pacific coralroot gift ideas
Handmade pacific coralroot gifts from independent makers.
🌱 Sample spot. Handmade gift picks from independent shops will appear here once our shop partnership is approved. These cards are placeholders, not real products.
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Pacific coralroot art print
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Pacific coralroot greeting card
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Pacific coralroot mug
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Pacific coralroot earrings
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Pacific coralroot embroidery pattern
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Pacific coralroot sticker
When does it bloom?
Bloom time in each of our 3 states
| State | Type | Peak bloom | Sightings* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Washington | Native | May–August | 1,988 |
| Wyoming | Native | June–July | 525 |
| Alaska | Native | few records | 451 |
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
- Washington
- No list Washington has no state law listing endangered or threatened plants (the Washington Natural Heritage Program's rare plant list isn't regulatory), so we show NatureServe's Washington ranks instead. NatureServe: SNR, not yet ranked in Washington.
- Wyoming
- No list Wyoming has no state law listing endangered or threatened plants, so we show NatureServe's Wyoming ranks instead. NatureServe: S2, imperiled in Wyoming.
- Alaska
- No list Alaska has no state law listing endangered or threatened plants, so we show NatureServe's Alaska ranks instead. NatureServe: SNR, not yet ranked in Alaska.
- 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.
Please don't pick or dig this flower: NatureServe ranks it S2 in Wyoming. NatureServe
Can you eat it?
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.
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 Pacific coralroot in 7 states.
recorded by USDA PLANTS on our state lists not recorded
See the full list of states
Alaska, California, Idaho, Montana, Oregon, Washington, Wyoming.
Washington counties with USDA records: Chelan, Clallam, Cowlitz, Grays Harbor, Jefferson, King, Kittitas, Klickitat, Mason, Okanogan, Pend Oreille, Pierce, San Juan, Skagit, Skamania, Snohomish, Thurston, Whatcom.
Wyoming counties with USDA records: Teton.
Alaska counties with USDA records: Chugach, Copper River, Haines, Sitka.
More Washington flowers
Sources
- USDA, NRCS. PLANTS Database, profile COME17.
- iNaturalist, Corallorhiza mertensiana: taxonomy, research-grade observation counts and “Flowering” annotations, retrieved October 17, 2026.
- Wikipedia, Corallorhiza mertensiana (lead quoted under CC BY-SA 4.0).
- Washington: Washington State noxious weed list (WAC 16-750-005, -011, -015).
- Wyoming: Wyoming state designated noxious weeds (W.S. 11-5-102(a)(xi)), as listed by the Wyoming Weed & Pest Council.
- Alaska: Alaska prohibited and restricted noxious weeds (11 AAC 34.020).
- USFWS, ECOS species database (ESA listing check), October 17, 2026.
- NatureServe Explorer, Corallorhiza mertensiana (global and state ranks).
- Edibility and toxicity: no source found (marked "not well documented").
- Photo: Whitney Brook Matson via iNaturalist · CC BY 4.0 · resized.


