Georgia Wildlife Federation

Resources < Wildlife Habitats < Guide to Native Plants of Georgia for Wildlife < Eryngium yuccifolium

Rattlesnake Master looks almost like a plant from another world, as though a passing alien must have dropped some seeds. It is not inherently an unfriendly plant; though, it can be quite spiny. Rattlesnake Master has a unique oddness about it and may be considered quite handsome. Its striking feature is the huge amount of orbicular flower clusters that shoot out of the top of the plant in summertime. Even a single specimen plant, when mature, can pop out hundreds of flower heads, while clumps and mass plantings only increase the level of eeriness in the garden. It’s difficult to believe this plant comes from our fields and prairies rather than Mars or Venus.

The plant’s common name comes from a misunderstanding by early Americans. They believed, erroneously, that Rattlesnake Master could cure snakebite and that Native American rattlesnake handlers used the plant prior to their displays of control.

Family: Apiaceae (Parsley/Carrot)

Description: Tall-growing bluish or grayish green prairie perennial. Its stout central stem is unbranched until the terminal inflorescence. Leaves are alternate and occur toward the plant’s base, are long and strap-like, stiff, and 2 1/2” long and 2 1/2” wide. They are narrowly lanceolate, curve downward, and have parallel venation, with spines along the margins. Inflorescence is a grayish prickly ball of small white flowers 1” long. Bloom time is in mid-late summer until fall. Stems die down after flowering but are steadily replaced.

Size: 2-5 feet tall

Habit: Upright umbelliferous perennial

Light: Full sun; topples in shade

PLANTING AND CARE: Plants require well-drained soil, and tolerate sand, clay, loam, and gravel. It is easy to grow and has few diseases or pests. Because of its deep taproot, plants are difficult to transplant—choose the location with care before planting.

Ornamental Value: The main assets of Rattlesnake Master are its unusual flower globes and strong architectural quality in the garden.

Landscape Use: Rattlesnake Master works well as a specimen plant in more formal gardens. However, its best use is to grow the plant in the type of habitat it naturally favors: open fields, meadows, and prairies. It blends in with other native wildflowers and grasses like Broomsedge and Hairy Angelica.

Wildlife Benefits: The flowering heads attract many kinds of insects, including long-tongued bees, short-tongued bees, wasps, flies, butterflies, skippers, moths, and beetles. These insects usually seek nectar, although some of the bees may collect pollen for their brood nests. The caterpillars of the rare Rattlesnake Master Borer Moth bore into the stems and feed on the pith, while caterpillars of the Black Swallowtail feed on the plant’s foliage. Rarely browsed but occasionally sampled by herbivorous mammals because of the prickliness.

Native Habitat: Native to the eastern US from New Jersey west to Minnesota and south to Texas and Florida. It is primarily a tallgrass prairie plant, favoring black soil prairies, clay prairies, sand prairies, thickets, savannas, and limestone glades.