Beargrass, or rattlesnake master, is an herbaceous perennial in the carrot family (Apiaceae). It is native to open woodlands and tall grass prairies of the central United States and is also distributed across many eastern states. The genus name Eryngium comes from the Greek for a thorny or prickly plant, and yuccifolium refers to the leaves, which resemble yucca leaves. The common name may refer to previous medicinal use by Native Americans, although not necessarily for rattlesnake bites. It may grow 4 to 5 feet tall and spread 2 to 3 feet wide. This plant does best when planted in full sun and in moist, well-drained soil. Although it adapts well to many soil types, including shallow rocky soils, it prefers dry, loamy sand with little organic matter. Propagate this plant through seed or divide plants in late spring or early fall. It will self seed in optimal conditions. The stiff upright stems of this plant hold striking flower heads, and the unusual clumping foliage adds interest, providing coarse texture in the landscape. In addition to the flowers attracting many beneficial insects to the garden, the plant serves as a host to the larvae of the Rattlesnake-master borer snake ( Papaipema eryngii ) moth. This plant works well in the middle of perennial borders or planted in small groups in open woodlands, naturalized areas, and pollinator gardens. Because the plant is tolerant of wet soils, it may be ideal for a water garden or pond planting. The flowers are attractive fresh or dried and make an interesting addition to a cutting garden. Leaving the plants uncut through the winter will add interest to any landscape. Choose a location carefully since the leaves end in stiff spines that could be unpleasant if planted near a walkway. This plant was selected as the 2016 NC Wildflower of the Year , a program managed by the North Carolina Botanical Garden with some financial support from the Garden Club of North Carolina. Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: Voles feed on the crowns, especially in winter. The stems may fall over and need to be staked if the plant is grown in rich soil or in too much shade.
Curated pairwise relationships between this plant and others in the library — who feeds
whom, who competes, who confuses the pests. Green reads as a good pairing, red as one to avoid.
No curated interactions recorded for this species yet.
Also noted by NC State
Related species the NC State Plant Toolbox flags for this plant — look-alikes to tell
apart, and plants that play a similar role in a planting. Ones we carry in the library are linked.
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
Soil texture
Clay; Loam (Silt); Sand; Shallow Rocky
Soil pH
Acid (<6.0); Alkaline (>8.0); Neutral (6.0-8.0)
Soil drainage
Good Drainage | Moist | Occasionally Dry
Available space
3 feet-6 feet
NC region
Coastal; Mountains; Piedmont
Mature size
Height: 4 ft. 0 in. - 6 ft. 0 in. | Width: 3 ft. 0 in. - 6 ft. 0 in.
Canopy layer
4 - Herbaceous (3-15 ft)
Form & Appearance
Habit / form
Clumping; Erect
Texture
Coarse
Leaf color
Blue; Green
Leaf type
Simple
Leaf arrangement
Rosulate
Leaf shape
Linear
Leaf feel
Prickly
Leaf size
> 6 inches long, 1-3 inches wide
Hairs present
No
Leaf detail
Leaves are long and narrow, looking similar to a corn stalk or tulip leaf with parallel veins even though this plant is a dicot. The margins have filiform or spiny teeth.
Flower color
Blue; Green; White
Flower value
Fragrant; Good Cut; Good Dried; Showy
Flower size
< 1 inch
Flower detail
The white, small dense (acorn, button, or ball shaped) flowers are composed of many tiny parts, tightly packed in globular heads 1 inch across and grouped in clumps of 8-10. Individual flowers have 5 white petals, 5 white stamens with brown anthers, a pistil with two white styles. They have a sweet honey-like smell and attract pollinators. They bloom from June to August and turn from a green white to a blue color at maturity.
Bloom time
Summer
Fruit color
Brown/Copper
Fruit type
Schizocarp
Fruit detail
1/4" long brown seeds 2 per fruit.
Stem color
Green
Stem detail
Stems that hold the flowers have an opposite arrangement grow 3 to 4 feet tall from the center of the rosette of leaves and resemble a pitchfork.
Wildlife & Ecology
Native status
Native
Origin
U. S. native
Wildlife value
Attracts pollinator insects including wasps, flies, bees, and butterflies like monarchs and skippers. Soilder beetles eat the pollen. The rattle snake master stem-borer moth Papaipema eryngii) uses the plant as a larval host.
Attracts
Bees; Butterflies; Moths; Pollinators
Play value
Attracts Pollinators; Wildlife Food Source
Food & Medicine
Fruit type
Schizocarp
Uses (ethnobotany)
The sap and roots were used in traditional medicine. Native Americans used the leaves to weave baskets and sandals.