Veratrum viride
American false hellebore
(c) Douglas Goldman, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA), uploaded by Douglas Goldman · licence
Family: Melanthiaceae · Type: Herb · Native
Veratrum viride (American false hellebore) is a native California herb in the Melanthiaceae family, recognized by green flowers and drooping inflorescence branches diagnostic.
American false hellebore is a California native perennial found in the Klamath Ranges in wet subalpine meadows at elevations of 1,500 to 2,000 meters. Flowering from August to September, this plant produces green to yellowish-green flowers 6 to 10 millimeters long with oblanceolate perianth parts. Growing with tall, open inflorescences 30 to 70 centimeters high, it has drooping lower branches and a woolly appearance. Its large leaves are elliptic to widely ovate, measuring 15 to 35 centimeters long, with sparsely curly-ciliate edges and hairy undersides. The fruit is an oblong-ovoid capsule 2 to 3 centimeters long with widely winged seeds.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 2 sympatric species; green flowers and drooping inflorescence branches diagnostic
Habitat and range
Habitat: Wet subalpine meadows
Elevation: 1500-2000 m
California counties: Trinity, Siskiyou, Humboldt, Del Norte
Outside California: to Alaska, eastern North America
Bloom period
Veratrum viride blooms Aug-Sep.
How to tell it apart
vs Epipactis: Veratrum has large pleated leaves and branching flower clusters; Epipactis has smaller smooth leaves and orchid-type flowers in one spike.; vs Maianthemum: Veratrum is 3-6 feet tall with large pleated leaves; Maianthemum is under 2 feet with smooth heart-shaped leaves.; vs Toxicoscordion: Veratrum has large pleated leaves arranged up a tall stem; Toxicoscordion has narrow grass-like basal leaves.; vs Stachys: Veratrum has large pleated alternate leaves; Stachys has smaller opposite leaves and square stems.; vs Symplocarpus: Veratrum has pleated leaves up a tall stem; Symplocarpus has large basal leaves and a hooded flower spike.
Frequently asked questions
Is Veratrum viride native to California?
Yes. Veratrum viride is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Veratrum viride bloom?
Veratrum viride blooms Aug-Sep.
Where in California does Veratrum viride grow?
Veratrum viride occurs in Trinity, Siskiyou, Humboldt, Del Norte, at elevations of 1500-2000 m.
What plant family does Veratrum viride belong to?
Veratrum viride is in the Melanthiaceae family, genus Veratrum.
What habitat does Veratrum viride grow in?
Veratrum viride grows in Wet subalpine meadows.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
- Veratrum californicum var. californicum — California corn lily
- Veratrum fimbriatum — Fringed false-hellebore
- Veratrum insolitum — Siskiyou false-hellebore
- Veratrum sp. — Corn lily
- Xerophyllum sp. — Bear-grass
- Xerophyllum tenax — Common beargrass
- Melanthiaceae sp. — False-hellebore family
- Pseudotrillium rivale — Brook wakerobin
Sources: Jepson eFlora · Index of California Plant Names · CalPhotos
Last updated 2026-10-07
Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Cal-IPC, and more.