Flower profile
Woad
Isatis tinctoria
Woad is a wildflower that USDA PLANTS lists as introduced in the lower 48 states. In Utah it's most often seen in bloom in April–June.
*iNaturalist research-grade observations, as of October 17, 2026.
On our lists for: Utah
Quick look
Isatis tinctoria, also called woad, dyer's woad, dyer's-weed, or glastum, is a flowering plant in the family Brassicaceae with a documented history of use as a blue dye and medicinal plant. The double use of woad is seen in its name: the term Isatis is linked to its ancient use to treat wounds; the term tinctoria references its use as a dye. It is occasionally known as Asp of Jerusalem.
- It belongs to the Brassicaceae family. iNaturalist
- USDA PLANTS describes it as an herb (forb) with a biennial, perennial life cycle. USDA PLANTS
- USDA PLANTS lists it as introduced in the lower 48 states and records it in 15 states. USDA PLANTS
- NatureServe lists it as not native to Utah. NatureServe
- In Utah, most iNaturalist sightings of it in flower come in April–June. iNaturalist
- iNaturalist has 1,015 research-grade sightings of it in Utah, ranking #51 among the 109 flowers on our Utah list. iNaturalist
State flower gift ideas
This one is a regulated invasive plant, so here are state flower gifts instead.
🌱 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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State flower print
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Birth-flower necklace
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Wildflower seed favors
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Botanical tea towel
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Pressed-flower frame
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Flower-garden mug
When does it bloom?
In Utah, most flowering sightings come in April–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
- GNR Not yet ranked worldwide. NatureServe
- Utah
- No list Utah has no state law listing endangered or threatened plants, so we show NatureServe's Utah ranks instead. NatureServe: SNA, not applicable (usually because it isn't native there) in Utah.
- 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.
Can you eat it?
None of the sources we checked (NC State Extension (no edibility or poison notes on its page), USDA PLANTS) say whether it's edible or poisonous for people. NC State Extension
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 woad in 15 states plus Washington, D.C.
recorded by USDA PLANTS on our state lists not recorded
See the full list of states
California, Colorado, Idaho, Illinois, Montana, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Oregon, Utah, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wyoming; District of Columbia.
Utah counties with USDA records: Box Elder, Cache, Daggett, Davis, Duchesne, Juab, Millard, Morgan, Rich, Salt Lake, Sanpete, Summit, Uintah, Utah, Weber.
More Utah flowers
Sources
- USDA, NRCS. PLANTS Database, profile ISTI.
- iNaturalist, Isatis tinctoria: taxonomy, research-grade observation counts and “Flowering” annotations, retrieved October 17, 2026.
- Wikipedia, Isatis tinctoria (lead quoted under CC BY-SA 4.0).
- Utah: Utah noxious weed list (Utah Admin. Code R68-9-3).
- USFWS, ECOS species database (ESA listing check), October 17, 2026.
- NatureServe Explorer, Isatis tinctoria (global and state ranks).
- Edibility and toxicity: NC State Extension.
- Photo: jonsense via iNaturalist · CC BY 4.0 · resized.