The Fish and Wildlife Service proposes removing Virginia sneezeweed from the federal list of Endangered and Threatened Plants due to recovery. This perennial herbaceous flowering plant was listed as a threatened species in 1998 when only 25 populations were known from Virginia.
With support from federal endangered species grants, partners and private landowners have discovered additional populations in Missouri and a population in Indiana.
Today, there are more than 55 known populations in Missouri � even more than in Virginia. Of those in Virginia, six are on land managed by the U.S. Forest Service, and two are on state-owned land within Natural Area Preserves managed by the Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation, specifically dedicated to preserving the wetland habitats used by the Virginia sneezeweed.
The Virginia sneezeweed’s risk of extinction is much lower now than when it was listed due to an increase in the number and range of the known populations, coupled with seed banking, propagation, and partner-led conservation efforts. At the time of listing, the significant threat to the species was habitat changes due to drought and flooding. These may continue to affect some populations but constitute a much lower threat to the species given the greater overall resiliency, representation, and redundancy since the listing.
The Service’s proposal will publish in the Federal Register on Aug. 5, 2025, opening a 60-day public comment period, ending Oct. 6, 2025. To read the proposed rule and relevant documents, including how to submit comments, visit and search for the docket number FWS-R5-ES-2024-0058.
For more information regarding this species, visit .
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