Rattlesnake Master

Eryngium yuccafolium

Size: 1g availability

Flower
Max size: 5’ tall x 1’ wide
Average size: 4′ tall x 1′ wide

Very Moist, Usually Moist, Moist to Dry
Loam, Muck, Sand
Sun, Part Shade
No salt tolerance

AKA: Beargrass, Button Eryngo, Button Snakeroot

This interesting flower blooms in late spring and summer with green and white spikey flowers. It is winter formant. Good plant for difficult soil conditions. More robust in fertile soil. Attracts many kinds of insects, including long-tongued bees, short-tongued bees, wasps, flies, butterflies, skippers, moths, beetles, and plant bugs. These insects usually seek nectar, although some of the bees may collect pollen for their brood nests.

The Choctaw used it as a red dye. It’s fibers have been used to make bags, shoes, and other textiles by tribes from Arkansas to Kentucky. Medically it was used by multiple tribes to treat rattlesnake bites and to relieve muscle pains by drinking the liquid made from mashing the roots in cold water. They would also use it as a general emetic, and to treat toothaches by rinsing the mouth with an infusion. One of the most useful plants in Muskogean pharmacopoeia, a reference work for identifying and using compound medicines.