Bloomipedia
Queen's crown (Rhodiola rhodantha)
Photo: sara_harder via iNaturalist · CC BY 4.0 · resized

Flower profile

Queen's crown

Rhodiola rhodantha

Native in the lower 48

Queen's crown is a wildflower that USDA PLANTS lists as native in the lower 48 states. It's on our flower lists for 2 states, and across the U.S. it's most often seen in bloom in July–September.

6states
2of our state lists
3,141U.S. sightings*

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

On our lists for: Colorado, Wyoming

Quick look

Rhodiola rhodantha, common name redpod stonecrop or queen's crown, is a perennial flowering plant in the family Crassulaceae.

  • It belongs to the Crassulaceae 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 6 states. USDA PLANTS
  • NatureServe lists it as native to Colorado and Wyoming. NatureServe
  • In Colorado, most iNaturalist sightings of it in flower come in July–September. iNaturalist
  • In Wyoming, most iNaturalist sightings of it in flower come in July–September. iNaturalist
  • iNaturalist has 2,402 research-grade sightings of it in Colorado, ranking #63 among the 110 flowers on our Colorado list. iNaturalist
  • iNaturalist has 426 research-grade sightings of it in Wyoming, ranking #65 among the 107 flowers on our Wyoming list. iNaturalist

Queen's crown gift ideas

Handmade queen's crown gifts from independent makers.

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When does it bloom?

Flowering records by month across the U.S. (iNaturalist research-grade observations marked “Flowering”) (539 records)
Bloom time in each of our 2 states
StateTypePeak bloomSightings*
ColoradoNativeJuly–September2,402
WyomingNativeJuly–September426

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
Colorado
No list Colorado has no state law listing endangered or threatened plants, so we show NatureServe's Colorado ranks instead. NatureServe: S4, apparently secure in Colorado.
Wyoming
No list Wyoming has no state law listing endangered or threatened plants, so we show NatureServe's Wyoming ranks instead. NatureServe: S4, apparently secure in Wyoming.
Rare elsewhere
Other states where NatureServe ranks it rare or missing: UT (S2). (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 queen's crown in 6 states.

recorded by USDA PLANTS on our state lists not recorded

See the full list of states

Arizona, Colorado, Montana, New Mexico, Utah, Wyoming.

Colorado counties with USDA records: Alamosa, Boulder, Chaffee, Clear Creek, Custer, Delta, Dolores, Eagle, El Paso, Garfield, Gilpin, Grand, Gunnison, Hinsdale, Huerfano, La Plata, Lake, Larimer, Mesa, Mineral, Montezuma, Ouray, Park, Pitkin, Rio Blanco, Routt, Saguache, San Juan, San Miguel, Summit.

Wyoming counties with USDA records: Albany, Big Horn, Carbon, Fremont, Hot Springs, Johnson, Park, Sheridan, Sublette, Sweetwater, Teton, Washakie.

More Colorado flowers

Lanceleaf stonecrop (Sedum lanceolatum)

Lanceleaf stonecrop

Sedum lanceolatum

Native

🌼 Blooms in CO: June–August
Western roseroot (Rhodiola integrifolia)

Western roseroot

Rhodiola integrifolia

Native

🌼 Blooms in CO: June–August
Great mullein (Verbascum thapsus)

Great mullein

Verbascum thapsus

Introduced

🌼 Blooms in CO: June–October

Sources