Rattlesnake Master (Eryngium yuccifolium)
air-ING-ee-um yuccifolium

Deciduous Perennial Upright, Clump-Forming in the Apiaceae Family
 
Buy Rattlesnake Master
Size Notes Price Availability
#1 gallon Field $19.02 Likely available
11/1 - 11/8
1/24 - 4/4
Tray of 10 4" pots Field $62.78 Likely available
11/1 - 11/8
1/24 - 4/4

A striking North American tallgrass prairie native with yucca-like spiky leaves and globe-shaped, greenish-white flower heads that draw a huge variety of pollinators.

Eryngium yuccifolium, commonly called rattlesnake master, is a true North American prairie native found across the central and eastern United States, including the tallgrass prairies of the Chicago region. Its common name comes from historical folk medicine: Native American groups, including the Mesquakie, used the plant's sap and roots in ceremonial handling of rattlesnakes and in treating snakebite, though there's no evidence it actually prevents or treats snake venom.

The species epithet yuccifolium means "yucca-like leaves," and the plant lives up to it — long, stiff, sword-shaped basal leaves rise into a strong vertical clump, topped in late summer by tall, waxy blue-green stems carrying round, bristly, greenish-white flower heads that look more like a thistle relative than a typical prairie flower.

Pros

  • A true tallgrass prairie native, including in the Chicago region
  • Exceptional pollinator and wildlife value — bees, wasps, beetles, and butterflies, plus a specialist host moth
  • Deep taproot makes it extremely drought-tolerant once established
  • Rarely browsed by deer or rabbits
  • Strong architectural winter interest

Cons

  • Deep taproot resents transplanting or division once established
  • Self-seeds readily and can spread into a near-monoculture if unchecked
  • Sharp, spiny leaf tips and flower bracts make handling uncomfortable
  • Tall plants may need support or mass planting for stability
Why Like A true tallgrass prairie native found right in the Chicago region's own remnant prairies, rattlesnake master carries real ecological weight beyond its ornamental value — it's the sole host plant for the rattlesnake master stem-borer moth, a prairie specialist now restricted to surviving prairie remnants, and its flower heads are a magnet for bees, wasps, soldier beetles, and butterflies including monarchs. Its spiky, yucca-like leaves were historically woven into sandals and baskets, and Native American groups such as the Mesquakie used it ceremonially in rattlesnake handling.
Highlights This is one of the few Eryngium that's a genuine North American prairie native rather than a European or Asian import, and it shows: it's a documented host plant for the rare rattlesnake master stem-borer moth (Papaipema eryngii), whose caterpillars depend entirely on this species to complete their life cycle, and its globe-shaped flower heads draw an unusually wide range of bees, wasps, beetles, and butterflies, including monarchs.
 

Plant Data

Mature Size 24 - 60 inches tall. 24 - 36 inches wide.
Sun Exposure Full Sun - Full Sun
Moisture Tolerance Dry - Medium
Zones 3a - 8b (Usually hardy to -40° F)
Tags Attracts Bees, Attracts Beneficial Insects, Attracts Butterflies, Attracts Pollinators, Deciduous, Deer Resistant, Drought Tolerant, Dry, Full Sun, Full Sun, Illinois Native, Low Maintenance, Medium, Native to North America, Naturalizing, Non-Allergenic, Perennial, Prairie Garden, Rabbit Resistant, Tolerant of Hot Dry Site, Tolerant of Poor Soil, Tolerant of Sandy Soil, Winter Interest
Bloom Period July To September
Flower Color Greenish-white
 

More Info from Experts

Photos of This with...

Moonshine Yarrow, Karl Foerster Feather Reed Grass, Daylily, Goldsturm Black-Eyed Susan,
 
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Pricing and Availability History

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Past Availability
2025 : 04/03 - 10/04
2024 : 05/01 - 10/05
2023 : 04/13 - 09/30


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Plants which are well-adapted to our local climate are most often field-grown (outside). Field-grown plants are generally cheaper and have the advantage of already somewhat acclimated to our cold winters, but that means they’re not artificially far along in the spring and tend to bloom at the normal time in our area.

Spring annuals and tender perennials are typically grown in Greenhouses so they can be ready and luxurious exactly when customers want them. Some perennials are also “forced” into early bloom in greenhouses. In May, there can be a very big difference between field-grown and greenhouse-grown plants of the same type. The latter typically look good right away (so they’re a great choice where that’s important), but we typically pay a premium for it.


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No Pricing or Availability Right Now

We order from a rotating cast of the best nurseries in the Great Lakes region. It looks like we've offered this plant in the past, but the nurseries we're working with this week don't appear to have it in stock at the moment.

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