Kendall County (IL) Forest Preserve District
Rattlesnake Master
Eryngium yuccifolium [C-value 9]
Carrot family (Apiaceae)
Blooms July -
Mid-September
The native Rattlesnake Master is uncommon in our area. This very interesting perennial prefers full sun and moist (well drained) to slightly dry conditions. In our area it is usually found in high quality habitats including moist to slightly dry black soil prairies and savannas. The entire plant is bluish or grayish-green with a desert-like appearance. It is 2-5' tall with a stout central stem with alternate leaves near the base of the plant that are long and sword-like, stiff, and up to 2½' long and 2½" across with widely scattered stiff teeth. The long-stalked inflorescence at the stem's apex consists of several whitish green prickly balls of flowers about ½–1" across. Each ball contain numerous small white flowers individually surrounded by prickly bracts.
Rattlesnake Master at Maramech Forest Preserve restored prairie July 30, 2014
Rattlesnake Master in prairie at Jay Woods Forest Preserve July 12, 2012
Rattlesnake Master foliage at Subat Forest Preserve July 1, 2013
Rattlesnake Master leaf at Jay Woods Forest Preserve June 26, 2013
Rattlesnake Master colony at Hoover Forest Preserve prairie July 20, 2015
Rattlesnake Master seed heads (with Milkweed fuzz) at Jay Woods Forest Preserve October 26, 2014
Native Americans used this plant to treat snakebite and to make a tea to treat hives, whooping cough and measles Reminder: see our Do Not Disturb Notice.
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