Rattlesnake Master

Eryngium yuccifolium

The unusual name of this plant comes from the old, mistaken belief that its root could cure rattlesnake bites.

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Introduction

The Rattlesnake Master features white, spiky flowers which have a thistle-like appearance.  Rattlesnake Master grows up to 4 feet tall. With its striking appearance, many assume it belongs in a desert landscape and its coarse leaves and sturdy structure make it unappealing to deer and rabbits.

Despite its rugged look, this plant is a member of the carrot and parsley family (Apiaceae), though it stands apart from the typical umbel-shaped flowers and finely cut foliage associated with its relatives. Rattlesnake Master thrives in medium-wet to medium-dry soils and prefers locations with full sun.

This plant can be found growing throughout the prairie at Gabis Arboretum.

About the Plant

It has unique flowering heads that add texture to the flower garden attracting a wide variety of insects, including long-tongued and short-tongued bees, wasps, flies, butterflies, skippers, moths, beetles and plant bugs. Most visitors are drawn by its nectar, while some bees also collect pollen for their brood nests. The stems occasionally serve as a host for the caterpillars of the rare Rattlesnake Master Borer Moth, which feed on the plant’s pith.