The Virginia sneezeweed was first discovered in 1936. After decades of conservation work, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is proposing to remove the Virginia sneezeweed from the federal list of Endangered and Threatened Plants — a milestone in the recovery of this once-imperiled species.

The Virginia sneezeweed, a perennial herb with bright yellow blooms, was listed as threatened in 1998 when only 25 populations were known — all in Virginia. Thanks to federal endangered species grants, the dedication of conservation partners, and cooperation from private landowners, scientists have since discovered additional populations in Missouri and even one in Indiana. Today, Missouri alone boasts more than 55 populations, surpassing Virginia in numbers.

Sneezeweed was clinging to survival. In 1998 the species was officially listed as threatened under the Endangered Species Act.

Here in the Commonwealth, the plant now grows in protected strongholds: six populations on U.S. Forest Service land and two within Virginia Natural Area Preserves, where wetland habitats are managed specifically for their survival. Beyond land protection, efforts like seed banking, propagation, and habitat restoration have bolstered the sneezeweed’s numbers and resilience.

When the plant was first listed, extreme weather — droughts and floods — posed the greatest danger. Those threats still exist, but the sneezeweed’s broader range and healthy populations make it far less vulnerable today.

Now, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service believes this once-fragile wildflower has recovered enough to stand on its own. On August 5, 2025, the agency published a proposal to remove the Virginia sneezeweed from the federal threatened species list. The public will have until October 6, 2025 to weigh in.

This is more than a bureaucratic milestone — it’s a testament to what happens when we commit to protecting wild places and the species that depend on them. The sneezeweed’s story shows that recovery is possible, but only when we keep fighting for the lands and waters that sustain life.

Read the proposal & submit comments: Federal Register Docket FWS-R5-ES-2024-0058
Learn more about the Virginia sneezeweed: ECOS Species Profile