Bitterroot
Lewisia rediviva, family Montiaceae
A small pink or white wildflower of dry western North America, Montana’s state flower
Bitterroot is a low perennial herb with fleshy roots and large pink to white flowers, native to dry, rocky ground in western North America. Its roots were a prized food for Native American peoples, and it is now the state flower of Montana, lending its name to local mountains and rivers.
- Chosen as the state flower of Montana in 1895
- Roots eaten by Native American peoples as a delicacy
- Flowers range from white to deep pink or lavender
- Grows in dry, rocky soils of western North America
- Named for Meriwether Lewis of the Lewis and Clark Expedition
What does Bitterroot look like?
Bitterroot is a small, low-growing perennial with a thick, fleshy taproot and a rosette of narrow, blunt-tipped leaves that often wither before the plant blooms. Its flower stalks are very short, each bearing a single large flower with 10 to 19 petals, ranging in color from white to deep pink or lavender. The flowers can be up to 3.5 cm long and are strikingly large compared to the rest of the plant. After flowering, it forms egg-shaped seed capsules.
Where does Bitterroot come from?
Bitterroot grows wild in dry, rocky or gravelly soils across western North America, from southern British Columbia down to southern California and east to Montana, Idaho, Wyoming, northern Colorado, and northern Arizona. The plant was first described scientifically from specimens collected during the Lewis and Clark Expedition, and its scientific name, Lewisia rediviva, honors Meriwether Lewis and its ability to revive from seemingly dead roots. Its range covers grasslands, open bushland, and forests at low to moderate elevations.
When and how Bitterroot blooms
Bitterroot flowers from April through July, depending on local climate. The plant thrives in dry, well-drained soils and is adapted to survive harsh, arid conditions. Its fleshy roots allow it to withstand drought, and it is usually found in open, rocky places. The leaves appear early but often die back before the flowers open. The plant is perennial, regrowing each year from its rootstock.
How Bitterroot is used
The thick roots of bitterroot were traditionally harvested in spring by Native American peoples, who peeled and boiled them to make a jelly-like food. The roots were eaten with sugar or salt, and sometimes cooked with grouse. Today, the plant is valued as a symbol of Montana, where it is the state flower, and it is recognized for its cultural and historical significance to indigenous communities.
Kinds of Bitterroot
Lewisia rediviva is one of several species in the Lewisia genus, but it is distinguished by its lack of a groove on the upper surface of its leaves and its large, showy flowers. The number of petals and their color can vary from plant to plant, with shades ranging from white to deep pink or lavender.
What Bitterroot means
Bitterroot holds deep cultural importance for Native American tribes such as the Shoshone, Flathead, and Ktunaxa, who used it as a food source and in traditional practices. The plant’s name is reflected in French and several indigenous languages. In 1895, it was chosen as the state flower of Montana, and several geographic features in the region are named after it, including the Bitterroot Mountains and Bitterroot Valley.
Questions people ask about Bitterroot
Where does bitterroot come from?
Bitterroot is native to western North America, growing in dry, rocky soils from southern British Columbia through the western United States, including Montana, Idaho, and California.
What does the bitterroot flower look like?
It is a low plant with a single large flower per stalk, having 10 to 19 petals that can be white, pink, or lavender. The flowers are notably large compared to the rest of the plant.
How was bitterroot used by Native Americans?
Native American peoples harvested the thick roots in spring, peeling and boiling them to make a jelly-like food. The roots were sometimes eaten with sugar or salt, and were considered a delicacy.
What does bitterroot symbolize?
Bitterroot is the state flower of Montana and is a symbol of the region. It also holds cultural significance for several Native American tribes.
When does bitterroot bloom?
Bitterroot flowers from April through July, depending on the local climate in its native range.
Good reading and sources
- Encyclopaedia BritannicaArticle
- Lewisia redivivaUS Department of Agriculture, Article
- Bitterroot - Lewis & Clark National Historic Trail (U.S. National Park Service)US National Park Service, Article
- Lewisia redivivaRoyal Horticultural Society, Article
- Plants of the World OnlineRoyal Botanic Gardens, Kew, Plant database
- Where it has been recordedGBIF, Plant database
- Sightings and photos by naturalistsiNaturalist, Plant database
The facts on this page come from the Wikipedia article "Bitterroot", written by its contributors and used under the CC BY-SA 4.0 licence, and from its Wikidata record (CC0). Phool rewrote the text in its own words, with AI assistance, and compares every page with the article to make sure no passage is copied. It may be reused under the same CC BY-SA 4.0 licence with a link back.
It may contain mistakes. It is not medical or foraging advice: many flowers are poisonous, and traditional uses are reported, not recommended. If something is wrong, tell us. Last refreshed 2026-10-03.
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