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Bull's Kittentails

Synthyris bullii

Last reviewed: August 2026

Bull's Kittentails (Synthyris bullii)
Photo: Britton, N.L., and A. Brown. 1913. An illustrated flora of the northern United States, Canada and the British Possessions. 3 vols. Charles Scribner's Sons, New York. Vol. 3: 198. Courtesy of Kentucky Native Plant Society. Scanned by Omnitek Inc. / Wikimedia Commons (Public domain)

Toxicity unknown

Bull's Kittentails (Synthyris bullii) is not listed by the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center (opens in new tab) or the other sources we check, so we have no verdict for it either way. Absence from those lists is not a clearance. If your pet shows symptoms after eating any plant, call the ASPCA at (888) 426-4435.

Light

part shade

Water

medium

Size

4"–8" H × 3"–6" W

Bloom

Mar, Apr, May

Native to

IA, IL, IN, MI and 3 more states

Pollinators

bees, butterflies

Before you buy

Your city may pay you to plant this

Cities and water utilities offer rebates for replacing lawn with native and water-wise plants. We track 452 programs across 44 states, each with a link to the provider and the date we last checked it.

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Browse plants for this ecoregion

Western Corn Belt PlainsNorth Central Hardwood ForestsDriftless AreaSoutheastern Wisconsin Till PlainsCentral Corn Belt PlainsInterior River Valleys and Hills

Synthyris bullii is a small native wildflower that forms neat, compact clumps with heart-shaped leaves and delicate spikes of tiny blue or purple flowers in spring. This diminutive perennial goes dormant in summer, disappearing until the following spring when it emerges as one of the earliest native bloomers.

In an HOA neighborhood

Bull's Kittentails takes more care to keep looking intentional in a front yard. Maintenance level: low. Consider it for backyard or mid-zone beds rather than the street edge.

Works well in: backyard only.

  • Completely disappears in summer leaving bare spots
  • Very small size makes it look sparse in formal settings
  • Unfamiliar appearance may be seen as weedy

Wildlife value

The early spring flowers provide valuable nectar for native bees and early butterflies when few other food sources are available.

Common questions

How much sun does Bull's Kittentails need?
Bull's Kittentails grows best in part shade conditions.
When does Bull's Kittentails bloom?
Bull's Kittentails blooms in March, April, and May.
Where is Bull's Kittentails native?
Bull's Kittentails (Synthyris bullii) is native to IA, IL, IN, MI and 3 more states, per the World Checklist of Vascular Plants (Kew).
What pollinators does Bull's Kittentails attract?
Bull's Kittentails draws bees and butterflies.
Is Bull's Kittentails HOA-friendly?
Bull's Kittentails takes more care to look intentional in a front yard. Consider it for backyard or mid-zone beds rather than the street edge.

Native range data from the World Checklist of Vascular Plants (Kew). Pollinator and host plant associations compiled from GBIF, iNaturalist, and published ecological literature.

If something looks wrong

Common plant problems, and what to check first

These come up on almost any plant. Each guide lists the likely causes in the order they are worth ruling out, with one thing to check before you act on any of them, and links to the source it came from.

See all plant problem guides

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