Flower profile

Virginia saxifrage

Micranthes virginiensis

Native in the lower 48

Virginia saxifrage is a wildflower that USDA PLANTS lists as native in the lower 48 states. It's on our flower lists for 5 states, and across the U.S. it's most often seen in bloom in March–May.

28states

5of our state lists

15,001U.S. sightings*

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

On our lists for: Connecticut, Kentucky, Maryland, Vermont, Virginia

Quick look

Micranthes virginiensis, the early saxifrage, or Virginia saxifrage, is a wildflower native to eastern North America Virginia saxifrage is a herbaceous plant. It can grow up to 30 cm (12 in) tall. André Michaux described the species in 1803.
From Wikipedia's article Micranthes virginiensis, CC BY-SA 4.0.

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 28 states. ^{USDA PLANTS}
NatureServe lists it as native to Virginia, Maryland, Vermont, Kentucky and Connecticut. ^NatureServe
In Virginia, most iNaturalist sightings of it in flower come in March–April. ^iNaturalist
In Maryland, most iNaturalist sightings of it in flower come in March–April. ^iNaturalist
iNaturalist has 2,128 research-grade sightings of it in Virginia, ranking #79 among the 110 flowers on our Virginia list. ^iNaturalist
iNaturalist has 1,545 research-grade sightings of it in Maryland, ranking #84 among the 110 flowers on our Maryland list. ^iNaturalist
iNaturalist has 1,055 research-grade sightings of it in Vermont, ranking #83 among the 110 flowers on our Vermont list. ^iNaturalist

Virginia saxifrage gift ideas

Handmade virginia saxifrage 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”) (2,347 records)

Bloom time in each of our 5 states

State	Type	Peak bloom	Sightings*
Virginia	Native	March–April	2,128
Maryland	Native	March–April	1,545
Vermont	Native	April–May	1,055
Kentucky	Native	March–April	781
Connecticut	Native	April–May	489

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
Virginia: Not listed Not on Virginia endangered and threatened plant and insect species (2VAC5-320-10). NatureServe: SNR, not yet ranked in Virginia. ^2VAC5-320-10
Maryland: Not listed Not on Maryland threatened and endangered plants (COMAR 08.03.08.05, .06 and .08). NatureServe: SNR, not yet ranked in Maryland. ^{COMAR 08.03.08}
Vermont: Not listed Not on Endangered and Threatened Plants of Vermont (10 V.S.A. chap. 123; list of Feb 10, 2022). NatureServe: S5, secure in Vermont. ^{Vermont E&T list}
Kentucky: Not listed Not on Kentucky endangered and threatened plant lists (400 KAR 3:040, eff. 2026). NatureServe: S5, secure in Kentucky. ^{400 KAR 3:040}
Connecticut: Not listed Not on Connecticut Endangered, Threatened and Special Concern Plants (RCSA 26-306; 2015 list). NatureServe: SNR, not yet ranked in Connecticut. ^{CT E/T/SC list}
Rare elsewhere: Other states where NatureServe ranks it rare or missing: AR (S1), IL (S2), LA (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?

For peopleEdible (per NC State Extension)

NC State Extension notes: “The young early spring leaves can be eaten in salads.” ^{NC State Extension}

For petsNot well documented

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 Virginia saxifrage in 28 states plus Washington, D.C.

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recorded by USDA PLANTS on our state lists not recorded

See the full list of states

Alabama, Arkansas, Connecticut, Delaware, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia; District of Columbia.

Virginia counties with USDA records: Albemarle, Alleghany, Amelia, Amherst, Appomattox, Arlington, Augusta, Bath, Bedford, Botetourt, Brunswick, Buchanan, Buckingham, Campbell, Caroline, Carroll, Charlotte, Chesterfield, Clarke, Culpeper, Cumberland, Dickenson, Dinwiddie, Fairfax, Fauquier, Floyd, Fluvanna, Franklin, Frederick, Giles, Goochland, Grayson, Greene, Greensville, Halifax, Hanover, Henrico, Henry, Highland, James City, King George, King William, Loudoun, Louisa, Lunenburg, Madison, Mecklenburg, Montgomery, Nelson, New Kent, Nottoway, Orange, Page, Patrick, Pittsylvania, Powhatan, Prince Edward, Prince William, Pulaski, Rappahannock, Roanoke, Rockbridge, Rockingham, Shenandoah, Southampton, Spotsylvania, Stafford, Surry, Sussex, Warren, Washington, York.

Vermont counties with USDA records: Addison, Bennington, Chittenden, Orange, Orleans, Rutland, Washington, Windham, Windsor.

More Virginia flowers

Creeping foamflower

Tiarella stolonifera

Native

🌼 Blooms: April–June

Twoleaf miterwort

Mitella diphylla

Native

🌼 Blooms: April–May

American pokeweed

Phytolacca americana

Native

🌼 Blooms in VA: June–September

Sources

USDA, NRCS. PLANTS Database, profile SAVIV.
iNaturalist, Micranthes virginiensis: taxonomy, research-grade observation counts and “Flowering” annotations, retrieved October 17, 2026.
Wikipedia, Micranthes virginiensis (lead quoted under CC BY-SA 4.0).
Virginia: Virginia endangered and threatened plant and insect species (2VAC5-320-10).
Virginia: Virginia noxious weeds (2VAC5-317-20, Tier 1, 2 and 3).
Maryland: Maryland threatened and endangered plants (COMAR 08.03.08.05, .06 and .08).
Maryland: Maryland Prohibited Invasive Plant List (COMAR 15.06.04.06; MDA, updated July 2026).
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).
Kentucky: Kentucky endangered and threatened plant lists (400 KAR 3:040, eff. 2026).
Kentucky: Kentucky noxious weeds and invasive plants on state rights-of-way (KRS 176.051; species list from the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet).
Connecticut: Connecticut Endangered, Threatened and Special Concern Plants (RCSA 26-306; 2015 list).
Connecticut: Connecticut prohibited invasive plants (Conn. Gen. Stat. § 22a-381d).
USFWS, ECOS species database (ESA listing check), October 17, 2026.
NatureServe Explorer, Micranthes virginiensis (global and state ranks).
Edibility and toxicity: NC State Extension.
Photo: Bruce Cook via iNaturalist · CC0 · resized.