Rattlesnake Master

Scientific Name: Eryngium yuccifolium

Order: Apiales

Family: Apiaceae

Type: Perennial

Endangered Status: n/a

Number of Recorded Individuals at the Zoo: 29

Rattlesnake master, named for the erroneous belief that it could cure a rattlesnake bite, is a native prairie plant with medium grayish-green leaves and white globular flower heads that bloom throughout the summer. This perennial grows best in full-sun habitats with dry to medium soil and works well for more naturalize planting areas or massed in sunny borders. This flowering plant produces an abundance of pollen and nectar used by insects, including butterflies and bees. This species also supports the endangered rattlesnake master borer, a moth whose larvae bore into the plant’s stem and roots in order to pupate.

Native Range
Eastern United States

USDA Hardiness Zone
4–8

Average Mature Height
4 feet

Flower Color
White

Flowering Months
July–August

Supports
Butterflies and bees