Rattlesnake Master (Eryngium yuccifolium) 

Rattlesnake Master (Eryngium yuccifolium)

Eryngium yuccifolium, more commonly known as Rattlesnake Master, Button Eryngo, and Button Snake-root, is a stunning perennial herb of the parsley family that is native to the tallgrass prairies of central and eastern North America. It happily grows from Minnesota east to Ohio and south to Texas and Florida, including a few spots in Connecticut, New Jersey, Maryland, and Delaware.

Rattlesnake Master does best with full sun and well-drained soil. Slightly acidic to slightly alkaline soil reaction (pH) is best. It can die from root rot if the soil stays wet or moist for too long. Once planted it is best left undisturbed and never dug up or moved as with many native perennials because it develops a large taproot and other thick, fleshy roots. When planted from seed, a period of cold-moist stratification is required.

In remnant natural areas, Eryngium yuccifolium is fairly intolerant of anthropogenic (Human) disturbance. It readily establishes when planted in prairie restorations.

The flowers attract many insects, including short and long-tongued bees, flies, beetles, and butterflies, but most numerous of all are the pollinating predators. Rattlesnake Master is also the larval host to the rattlesnake-master borer moth (Papaipema eryngii) and the beautiful Black Swallowtail (Papilio polyxenes)!!

Fibers of Rattlesnake Master have been found as one of the primary materials used in the ancient shoe construction of Midwestern Indigenous Americans.

This plant is a must have if one wants unique foliage combined with dynamic function!

Plant Details:

USDA Zones: 4-9

Germination Needs: 60 Day Cold Stratification

Life Cycle: Perennial

Sun Exposure: Full Sun

Soil Moisture: Medium-Wet, Medium, Medium-Dry

Plant Spacing: 1½-2 feet

Height: 4 feet

Bloom Time: July, August, September

Bloom Color: White

Advantages

Pollinator Favorite: butterflies, moths, bees, wasps, beetles

Bird Favorite: seeds, insects, fruit, nectar, nesting, perchs.

Deer Resistant: Yes

Deer Resistant

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Packet quantities:

We pride ourselves on ethical, hands on, ecological management, using no mechanical or chemical methods whatsoever.

All of our native seed is hand reared, hand picked, and hand packed from native prairies under our exclusive management, never breaking chain of custody from the field until it is sent to you. Each packet is hand prepared for shipment by us, directly.

Small seed species will contain greater than 20-25 seed

Large seed species will contain greater than 10-15 seed

It is our mission to spread the wealth of native plant and pollinator ecological sustainability, and educate back yard gardeners as well as corporate and government entities in how to germinate, grow, and benefit from native synergies.

Thank you for your support, it is because of you, that we can grow together to do, what we do.🐛🦋🐝🐞🌾🌱🌼🧡

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