Skip to main content

Moschatel

Adoxa moschatellina

Last reviewed: October 2026

Moschatel (Adoxa moschatellina)
Photo: (c) Валерия Ковалева, some rights reserved (CC BY)

Toxicity unknown

Moschatel (Adoxa moschatellina) 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

shade

Water

medium

Size

2"–8" H × 2"–8" W

Bloom

Mar, Apr, May

Native to

CO, IA, IL, MN and 7 more states

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 459 programs across 44 states, each with a link to the provider and the date we last checked it.

Find rebates in your area

Picture natives in your own yard

Upload a photo of your yard and Patch Vision shows a rendering of it planted with natives for your region, like Moschatel.

Try it with your yardDownload on the App StoreGet it on Google Play

Browse plants for this ecoregion

Southern RockiesNorthern Lakes and ForestsDriftless Area

Moschatel is a delicate woodland perennial that forms small patches of soft green foliage in shaded areas. This diminutive plant produces tiny greenish flowers in early spring before going dormant in summer heat.

Get an email before your first frost

We'll email you a week before frost can first reach your ZIP. You also get a printable fall checklist with your dates right away.

You'll also get our weekly yard notes. Unsubscribe anytime.

In an HOA neighborhood

Moschatel 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.

  • Disappears completely in summer dormancy
  • Too small and ephemeral for visible landscaping
  • Requires specialized woodland conditions

Wildlife value

Limited wildlife value due to its small size and brief growing season. May provide early nectar for small insects when blooming in spring.

Common questions

How much sun does Moschatel need?
Moschatel grows best in shade conditions.
When does Moschatel bloom?
Moschatel blooms in March, April, and May.
Where is Moschatel native?
Moschatel (Adoxa moschatellina) is native to CO, IA, IL, MN and 7 more states, per the World Checklist of Vascular Plants (Kew).
Is Moschatel HOA-friendly?
Moschatel 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

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

Add this plant to your garden
iPhone appAndroid app