Flower profile
Prairie alumroot
Heuchera richardsonii
Prairie alumroot is a wildflower that USDA PLANTS lists as native in the lower 48 states. In Minnesota it's most often seen in bloom in May–June.
*iNaturalist research-grade observations, as of October 17, 2026.
On our lists for: Minnesota
Quick look
- It belongs to the Saxifragaceae 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 15 states. USDA PLANTS
- NatureServe lists it as native to Minnesota. NatureServe
- In Minnesota, most iNaturalist sightings of it in flower come in May–June. iNaturalist
- iNaturalist has 1,438 research-grade sightings of it in Minnesota, ranking #98 among the 110 flowers on our Minnesota list. iNaturalist
Prairie alumroot gift ideas
Handmade prairie alumroot 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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Prairie alumroot art print
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Prairie alumroot greeting card
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Prairie alumroot mug
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Prairie alumroot earrings
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Prairie alumroot embroidery pattern
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Prairie alumroot sticker
When does it bloom?
In Minnesota, most flowering sightings come in May–June.
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
- Minnesota
- Not listed Not on Minnesota endangered, threatened and special concern plants (Minn. R. 6134.0300). NatureServe: SNR, not yet ranked in Minnesota. Minn. R. 6134.0300
- Rare elsewhere
- Other states where NatureServe ranks it rare or missing: CO (S2), OK (SH). (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?
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. For context only: ASPCA lists a related species, Heuchera sanguinea (“Alumroot”), as non-toxic to dogs and cats. That doesn't tell us about this species, so keep pets away to be safe. ASPCA
🌿 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 prairie alumroot in 15 states.
recorded by USDA PLANTS on our state lists not recorded
See the full list of states
Colorado, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Wisconsin, Wyoming.
Minnesota counties with USDA records: Aitkin, Anoka, Becker, Beltrami, Benton, Big Stone, Blue Earth, Brown, Carlton, Cass, Chisago, Clay, Clearwater, Cook, Cottonwood, Crow Wing, Dakota, Dodge, Douglas, Fillmore, Goodhue, Hennepin, Houston, Hubbard, Isanti, Itasca, Jackson, Kanabec, Kittson, Koochiching, Lac qui Parle, Lake, Lake of the Woods, Lyon, Mahnomen, Marshall, McLeod, Meeker, Mille Lacs, Morrison, Mower, Murray, Nicollet, Nobles, Norman, Olmsted, Otter Tail, Pennington, Pine, Pipestone, Polk, Pope, Ramsey, Red Lake, Redwood, Renville, Rice, Rock, Roseau, Scott, Sherburne, St. Louis, Stearns, Steele, Swift, Todd, Wabasha, Wadena, Washington, Watonwan, Wilkin, Winona, Wright, Yellow Medicine.
More Minnesota flowers
Sources
- USDA, NRCS. PLANTS Database, profile HERI.
- iNaturalist, Heuchera richardsonii: taxonomy, research-grade observation counts and “Flowering” annotations, retrieved October 17, 2026.
- Minnesota: Minnesota endangered, threatened and special concern plants (Minn. R. 6134.0300).
- Minnesota: Minnesota Noxious Weed List (Minn. Stat. § 18.79; Minnesota Department of Agriculture, updated January 2026).
- USFWS, ECOS species database (ESA listing check), October 17, 2026.
- NatureServe Explorer, Heuchera richardsonii (global and state ranks).
- Edibility and toxicity: ASPCA.
- Photo: F. LaBry via iNaturalist · CC BY 4.0 · resized.