Eryngium yuccifolium

Common Names

Rattlesnake Master, Button Snake-Root, Button Snakeroot, Button Eryngo, Button Eryngium, Beargrass, Bear’s Grass, Yucca-Leaf Eryngo

Summary

Rattlesnake Master is a native North American perennial in the Apiaceae, growing 3–6 feet tall with blue-green, yucca-like leaves up to 18 inches long that form a basal clump; tall stems carry round heads of small white to bluish-white flowers May through September, with bristly seed heads and a honey-like fragrance. It prefers full sun and well-drained soils, tolerates drought once established, and does not tolerate standing water; propagation is by seed or division, with seeds requiring cold-moist stratification and plants able to self-seed under optimum conditions; it is used in prairie restoration, native plant gardens, and wildlife plantings for pollinators, and flowers or seed heads are suitable for cuts or dried arrangements; hardy in USDA zones 3–8 and largely pest- and deer-resistant.

Lifecycle

Perennial

Height

36-60 inches

Spread

24-36 inches

Hardiness Zones

Zones 3-8

Sunlight Requirements

Ideally full sun. Tolerates partial sun.

Soil Type

Well-drained soil

Soil Drainage

Well-drained soil; dry to moderately dry conditions; not tolerant of standing water

Soil pH

5-7.5

Bloom Color

White

Bloom Time

Summer

Foliage Color

Blue-green

Fall Foliage Color

Blue-green

Leaf Lifecycle

Deciduous

Growth Rate

Medium

Seasons of Interest

Spring, Summer, and Fall

Propagation Methods

Seeds, Division

Attracts Wildlife

Attracts bees, butterflies, and other pollinators