Eryngium yuccifolium (Rattlesnake Master)
$8.00
Out of stock
Size: 4-5’ tall / 2-3’ wide
Sun: Full Sun
Soil: Dry-Moist, Well-Drained
Bloom Time: Summer
Deer Resistance: 5/5
Ecotype: Unknown
Rattlesnake master is a unique perennial with standout foliage and flowers. As the species name suggests, the leaves are reminiscent of a yucca— long, glaucous, and blade-like. In early summer, it sends up long stalks with greenish-white, spiky flowers that look similar to those of the buttonbush. After blooming, the seed heads persist and provide structural interest throughout the winter.
Plant it densely, and pair it with other prairie perennials and grasses, including Butterfly Milkweed (Asclepias tuberosa), Coneflowers (Rudbeckia spp., Echinacea spp.), Dense Blazing Star (Liatris spicata), and Little Bluestem (Schizachyrium scoparium). This helps ensure it doesn’t flop, though the stems are sturdy.
Rattlesnake Master attracts a great number of pollinators, and serves as the sole food source for the Rattlesnake Master Borer Moth. From my experience, deer and rabbits leave this plant alone.