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False Mermaid

Floerkea proserpinacoides

Last reviewed: August 2026

False Mermaid (Floerkea proserpinacoides)
Photo: --SB_Johnny | PA! / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0)

Toxicity unknown

False Mermaid (Floerkea proserpinacoides) 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"–12" H × 2"–6" W

Bloom

Apr, May, Jun

Native to

CA, CO, CT, DE and 27 more states

Pollinators

bees, flies

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 445 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

Marine West Coast ForestNorthwestern Forested MountainsSierra NevadaNorth American DesertsCentral Basin and RangeSouthern RockiesNorthern Lakes and ForestsNorth Central Hardwood ForestsDriftless AreaSoutheastern Wisconsin Till PlainsCentral Corn Belt PlainsEastern Corn Belt PlainsSouthern Michigan/Northern Indiana Drift PlainsHuron/Erie Lake PlainsNortheastern HighlandsNortheastern Coastal ZoneNorthern Allegheny PlateauErie Drift PlainNorthern ForestsMiddle Atlantic Coastal PlainNorthern PiedmontSoutheastern PlainsRidge and ValleyCentral AppalachiansWestern Allegheny PlateauInterior PlateauInterior River Valleys and HillsEastern Great Lakes LowlandsAtlantic Coastal Pine Barrens

False mermaid is a small, delicate annual wildflower native to shaded woodland areas. It produces tiny white flowers from April through June and has finely divided, feathery foliage. This ephemeral plant typically completes its life cycle by mid-summer and may not return reliably each year.

In an HOA neighborhood

False Mermaid 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.

  • Extremely small and easily overlooked
  • Annual nature means unreliable presence
  • Can appear weedy or sparse in maintained landscapes

Wildlife value

This native plant provides nectar for small bees and flies during its spring blooming period. Its small size and brief flowering window offer modest but valuable early-season pollinator support.

Common questions

How much sun does False Mermaid need?
False Mermaid grows best in part shade conditions.
When does False Mermaid bloom?
False Mermaid blooms in April, May, and June.
Where is False Mermaid native?
False Mermaid (Floerkea proserpinacoides) is native to CA, CO, CT, DE and 27 more states, per the World Checklist of Vascular Plants (Kew).
What pollinators does False Mermaid attract?
False Mermaid draws bees and flies.
Is False Mermaid HOA-friendly?
False Mermaid 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.

Ready to grow False Mermaid? Add it to your garden in Pollinator Patch to track it and get season-by-season care guidance.

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