The bitterroot is the official state flower of Montana — a low-growing plant that opens star-like pink blooms close to the ground.

• Official flower: Bitterroot
• Scientific name: Lewisia rediviva
• Year adopted: 1895
• Native range: the northwestern U.S.

About the bitterroot

Montana adopted the bitterroot in 1895. The plant’s nutritious but bitter roots were an important food for Native peoples of the region, and both the Bitterroot Mountains and the Bitterroot River take their names from it. Its rose-pink flowers seem to rise straight from the soil.

Where it grows

The bitterroot grows on dry, gravelly slopes and grasslands across the northwestern United States, including western Montana, blooming in late spring and early summer.

Montana state flower FAQs

What is the state flower of Montana?

Montana’s state flower is the bitterroot (Lewisia rediviva), which it adopted in 1895.

When did Montana adopt its state flower?

Montana designated the bitterroot as its official state flower in 1895.

How did the bitterroot get its name?

The plant is named for its bitter-tasting roots, which were nonetheless a valued food source for Native peoples of the region.

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