Meet the White Snakeroot
White Snakeroot | Ageratina altissima
How do you know it’s me?:
I am a medium-large herbaceous perennial, often found growing in colonies.
My white flowers are small and fluffy, arranged in a loose, flat-topped cluster. Each independent flower is disc-shaped.
I have wide spade-shaped to heart-shaped leaves. My smaller upper leaves are more of a pointed oval shape. They have a rough texture and coarsely serrated margins, and sit opposite from one another along the stem.
My smooth stems can be green or copper-colored.
How big do I grow?: 2’ - 5’ height and 2’ - 4’ spread.
Sun-seeker or shade-lover: Part shade, though I can grow in full sun.
Where I prefer to put my roots: Moist to wet, rich soils.
Hardiness: Zone 3-8
Original home: I am native to woodlands in eastern North America.
Colors: My flowers are white.
When I bloom: I bloom from late summer to frost.
Wildlife friends: Butterflies and bees are attracted to my flowers, and songbirds enjoy my seeds.
Flora Fun Facts: My name comes from Native American’s use of my roots to treat snake bites.
More Info: Often considered a weed, White Snakeroot is commonly found in partially-shaded wooded areas in the eastern US. This native plant is avoided by most woodland mammals due to its toxic nature, and often forms dense colonies - that fill with fizzy white caps in early fall!
A member of the Asteraceae family, and was formerly known as Eupatorium rugosum.
This plant spreads easily, and deadheading can help control this.
All parts of this plant are highly poisonous! Historically, people who consumed milk from cows that ate this plant became sick — known as “milk sickness.” The ailment was not officially connected to the plant until the 1920s.
