Oregon fetid adderstongue
Scoliopus hallii
Last reviewed: October 2026
Oregon fetid adderstongue (Scoliopus hallii) is a perennial forb native to OR. It blooms in February, March, and April. The flowers draw flies and fungus gnats. It reads as an intentional, HOA-friendly planting in the right spot.
Toxicity unknown
Oregon fetid adderstongue (Scoliopus hallii) 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
high
Size
4"–10" H × 6"–12" W
Bloom
Feb, Mar, Apr
Native to
OR
Pollinators
flies, fungus gnats
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 458 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
A low-growing woodland perennial in the lily family, known for its two broad, often purple-mottled leaves that emerge each spring. Small maroon-brown, six-parted flowers appear near the ground on short stalks before the leaves fully unfurl, giving off a faint carrion-like scent that draws fly pollinators. The plant goes fully dormant by mid-summer, and its fruit capsule splits explosively to fling seed a short distance from the parent plant.
Growing Oregon fetid adderstongue
Grow Oregon fetid adderstongue in shade and high water. Mature plants reach 4 to 10 inches tall and spread 6 to 12 inches wide. Expect low maintenance to keep it looking intentional in a front yard.
In an HOA neighborhood
Oregon fetid adderstongue is an HOA-friendly choice in the right placement. Maintenance level: low. Tidiness: 3 out of 5.
Works well in: shaded woodland garden bed, under mature conifers or established shade trees, naturalized forest floor planting.
- Goes fully dormant and disappears from view by mid-summer, which can read as a bare patch unless paired with later-season shade plants
- Needs consistently moist, undisturbed forest-like soil, so it will not thrive in a typical open, sunny front-yard bed
Wildlife value
Provides an early-spring nectar source for flies and fungus gnats, which are drawn to its faint decaying-scent flowers rather than sweetness. Its explosive seed dispersal also scatters seed for ants to find and carry off, a secondary dispersal pathway.
Common questions
- How much sun does Oregon fetid adderstongue need?
- Oregon fetid adderstongue grows best in shade conditions.
- When does Oregon fetid adderstongue bloom?
- Oregon fetid adderstongue blooms in February, March, and April.
- Where is Oregon fetid adderstongue native?
- Oregon fetid adderstongue (Scoliopus hallii) is native to OR, per the World Checklist of Vascular Plants (Kew).
- What pollinators does Oregon fetid adderstongue attract?
- Oregon fetid adderstongue draws flies and fungus gnats.
- Is Oregon fetid adderstongue HOA-friendly?
- Oregon fetid adderstongue is generally an HOA-friendly choice in the right placement, with low maintenance.
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.
- It is dying right after planting
- Leaves turning yellow
- Wilting even though I watered it
- Brown crispy leaf tips
- Bugs on the plant
Ready to grow Oregon fetid adderstongue? Add it to your garden in Pollinator Patch to track it and get season-by-season care guidance.