Eryngium yuccifolium, Rattlesnake Master, Quart pot

Eryngium yuccifolium, Rattlesnake Master

FS, Zone 4, blooms July-September, 4’ x 1.5-2’, deer and rabbit resistant, moist to dry, sand to some clay.

This plant forms a long tap root and becomes difficult to move once established. It prefers full sun and drier, poor soil. If it doesn’t get enough sun, or if planted in soil that’s too fertile, it may be a less sturdy plant. Plant with other natives such as Vervain or Wild Bergamot to create an interesting contrast. It grows and flowers in most garden soils, provided it receives some sun during the middle of the day. In the garden, however, this wildflower benefits from some competition, especially from native grasses. Otherwise plants may grow very tall (over 5 feet) and the stems often fall over.

Rattlesnake master is a member of the carrot family. Break or crush a leaf, and the aroma will give it away. The flower’s unique structure provides food for many different kinds of insects. Each flowerhead has an average of 100 five-petaled flowers filled with abundant nectar that’s released over several weeks. In the garden, Rattlesnake Master is a favorite of native insects.

2020 was our first year growing this native. It was not particularly showy, probably setting its roots and getting established. Patience!

Attracts Monarch butterflies, skippers, and other butterflies visit the flower heads for nectar. Soldier beetles visit the flowers to eat pollen; major pollinators include a diversity of bees, wasps and flies. The caterpillars of the rare Rattlesnake Master Borer Moth bore into the stems and feed on the pith. Swallowtail Butterflies may have adapted to host on nonnative plants in the carrot family, but there are a couple of native plants that they originally evolved with. Rattlesnake master is one of them and Golden Alexander is another.