snake master plant Rattlesnake Master

snake master plant Rattlesnake MasterEryngium yuccifolium A wonderful tallgrass prairie plant known as Eryngium yuccifolium often goes by the name rattlesnake master or button snake root. You'll find it thriving in rocky woods, vibrant prairies, and sunny meadows. While most plants in the parsley and carrot family (Apiaceae) have delicately cut leaves and lovely domed flower clusters, the rattlesnake master stands out with its unique features: leaves with striking parallel veins, bristly

Eryngium yuccifolium

A wonderful tallgrass prairie plant known as Eryngium yuccifolium often goes by the  name rattlesnake-master or button snake-root. You'll find it thriving in rocky woods, vibrant prairies, and sunny meadows. While most plants in the parsley and carrot family (Apiaceae) have delicately cut leaves and lovely domed flower clusters, the rattlesnake master stands out with its unique features: leaves with striking parallel veins, bristly edges, and a sword-like shape that’s medium green, reminiscent of yuccas (which belong to the lily family). It also showcases tiny, stemless white flowers that gather in adorable globular heads, much like thistles.

Growing to a height of about 3 to 4 feet from the centers of their rosettes, these flowers present themselves in delightful branched clusters at the top of smooth, sturdy stems adorned with whitish, pointed bracts. They're a favorite for butterflies and other insects who love to visit their blooms.

This lovely plant prefers to settle in dry to medium, well-drained soils under the warm embrace of full sun. It's particularly fond of dry, sandy soils, and when conditions are just right, it happily self-seeds. However, if it’s grown in overly fertile soils or less than full sun, the plants may stretch and sprawl. Because this plant has a deep taproot, it doesn’t like to be moved around much, so it’s best left undisturbed once it has settled in.

The intriguing name "rattlesnake master" comes from early European pioneers, who mistakenly thought this plant could cure rattlesnake bites based on the various medicinal uses that Native Americans found for it. The species name yuccifolium, meaning "yucca-leaved," was chosen because of the resemblance of its leaves to those of yuccas.

Larval Host Plant: Stem Borer Moth (Papaipema eryngii), Flower Feeding Moth (Coleotechnites eryngiella)

Nectar Source Plant: Monarch Butterfly (

Danaus plexippus), Viceroy 

Butterfly (

Limenitis archippus), Hairstreaks 

Butterflies (Theclinae spp.), Crescent 

Butterflies (Phyciodes spp.), Sulphur

Butterflies (Colias spp.), and various Fritillary 

Butterflies.

BONAP MAP

Height: 4’-5'
Spread 2’-3'
Bloom: June-September
Light: Full Sun-Part Shade
Water: Low
Zone: 3-8
Origin: Texas & North America