# White Globeflower (*Trollius albiflorus*)

The White Globeflower is a beautiful flower with round, white petals that look like little globes! It blooms in spring and can brighten up meadows and gardens with its cheerful appearance.

- **Category:** [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/plant)
- **Rarity:** Common
- **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low
- **Snaps:** 1
- **Habitat:** Meadows

![White Globeflower](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Trollius_albiflorus_%281%29.jpg&width=800)

Photo: Jason Hollinger, CC BY 2.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Trollius_albiflorus_%281%29.jpg)

## Appearance

The White Globeflower has distinctive creamy-white, spherical flowers that appear to be solid balls, nestled among deeply lobed green leaves. Its unique, enclosed bloom structure differentiates it from most other open-faced mountain wildflowers, creating a striking visual.

## Taxonomy

- **Kingdom:** Plantae
- **Phylum:** Tracheophyta
- **Class:** Magnoliopsida
- **Order:** Ranunculales
- **Family:** Ranunculaceae
- **Genus:** Trollius

## Interesting facts

- It's a cousin to the common buttercup, but looks quite different!
- Its globe-like flowers are mostly made of sepals, not petals!
- Tiny beetles and flies sometimes stay the night inside its warm blooms.
- You can often find it blooming near melting snow in the mountains.

## Special abilities

- **Globe Protector:** White Globeflower has tight, globe-shaped flowers that protect its delicate reproductive parts from harsh mountain weather and chilly winds.
- **Secret Chamber:** Its flower design creates a warm, sheltered chamber, attracting small flies and beetles that seek refuge and help with pollination.
- **Cold Climber:** White Globeflower can thrive in high-altitude, cold environments because its roots are adapted to poor soils and short growing seasons.

## Measurements & details

- **Height:** 15-60 cm
- **Spread:** 15-30 cm
- **Flower Size:** 2-4 cm
- **Bloom Season:** Late spring to early summer
- **Edible:** No
- **Toxicity:** Mild
- **Lifecycle:** Perennial
- **Pollination Method:** Insect

## Ecological connections

- **Pollinates:** Two-form Bumblebee (*Bombus bifarius*) — Visits flowers for nectar and pollen
- **Eaten by:** [Hoary Marmot](https://www.snappit.app/explore/hoary-marmot) (*Marmota caligata*) — Graze on its leaves and stems in alpine areas
- **Eaten by:** [Mule Deer](https://www.snappit.app/explore/mule-deer) (*Odocoileus hemionus*) — Browses on the plant's foliage

## Traits

- [Flowering](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/flowering): Flowering plants are any plants that produce flowers as part of their reproductive cycle.
- [Spring Blooming](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/spring-blooming): Spring blooming plants produce their flowers during the spring season, often signifying the end of winter and the start of new growth.
- [Cold Hardy](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/cold-hardy): Cold hardy plants are able to withstand low temperatures and freezing conditions without significant damage.
- [Fragrant Flower](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/fragrant-flower): Fragrant flowers emit a pleasant aroma, often to attract pollinators or for defense.
- [Grassland](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/grassland): Grassland habitats are terrestrial biomes dominated by grasses and herbaceous plants, supporting a variety of grazing animals.
- [Pollinator Magnet](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/pollinator-magnet): Describes plants that are particularly attractive and beneficial to a wide range of pollinating organisms.
- [Wetland](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/wetland): This habitat trait identifies species found in wetlands, which are areas of land saturated with water, either permanently or seasonally, including marshes, swamps, and bogs.

## Collections

- [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/plants)

## Safety

**Danger:** 1/5 · Very low

Don't pick flowers without asking an adult first, so they can keep growing for everyone to enjoy.

## Frequently Asked Questions

### How to identify White Globeflower?

Start with the whole plant, then compare leaf arrangement, leaf edges, stems and any flowers or fruit. Opposite leaves grow in pairs; alternate leaves come one at a time along the stem. These details tell you far more together than a single green leaf does. Plant Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details.

### How tall is White Globeflower?

15-60 cm

### How wide does White Globeflower spread?

15-30 cm

### How big are the flowers on White Globeflower?

2-4 cm

### When does White Globeflower bloom?

Late spring to early summer

### Is White Globeflower edible?

No

### Is White Globeflower toxic?

Mild

### What is White Globeflower's lifecycle?

Perennial

## Where to spot

- [Wheeler Geologic Area](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/wheeler-geologic-area) — Colorado, US · Nature Reserve
- [Nickel Plate Provincial Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/nickel-plate-provincial-park) — British Columbia, CA · State Park

## More Plants

- [white snakeroot](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-snakeroot) (*Ageratina altissima*)
- [tree-of-heaven](https://www.snappit.app/explore/tree-of-heaven) (*Ailanthus altissima*)
- [western sword fern](https://www.snappit.app/explore/western-sword-fern) (*Polystichum munitum*)
- [common milkweed](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-milkweed) (*Asclepias syriaca*)

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Source: [White Globeflower: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-globeflower)