Snakeroot is a genus of more than 330 perennials and shrubs in the aster family (Asteraceae) native to warmer regions of the West Indies and the Americas. However, white snakeroot is native to the eastern portions of the USA. They are often found in rich woodland edges. The Genus name is Greek meaning 'un-aging', referring to the flowers keeping their color for a long time. They can grow from 1 to 5 feet tall and be sparse to dense in form in full sun to partial shade in various well-drained soils. Spread is by rhizomes and seeds. Most species have showy clusters of white to pinkish flowers and leaves can have a foul smell. Keep in mind these plants are poisonous to humans and horses. Even drinking milk from cows that have eaten the plant can cause nausea. The native species can be grown in NC and used in the woodland garden, pollinator garden, along a pond or stream, in the border or as a specimen. Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: No significant problems. Some species have become invasive in CA and HI.
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) | Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
Soil texture
Clay; High Organic Matter; Loam (Silt); Sand
Soil drainage
Good Drainage | Moist | Occasionally Dry
NC region
Coastal; Mountains; Piedmont
Growth rate
Medium
Maintenance
Medium
Canopy layer
4 - Herbaceous
Form & Appearance
Habit / form
Erect; Multi-stemmed; Rounded
Texture
Medium
Foliage
Deciduous
Leaf color
Green
Leaf type
Simple
Leaf arrangement
Alternate; Opposite
Leaf shape
Elliptical; Lanceolate
Leaf margin
Denticulate; Entire; Serrate
Leaf size
3-6 inches long, 1-3 inches wide
Hairs present
Yes
Leaf detail
Leaves are mostly opposite with a few having distal alternate leaves. Margins can be smooth to toothed, bases can be triangular, rhombic or oval. Leaf surface can be glabrous, hairy or gland-dotted.
Flower color
White
Flower form
Corymb
Flower shape
Tubular
Flower size
< 1 inch
Flower detail
Head of 15 to 30 tubular, white flowers in a dense, flat-topped cluster. Composite flowers without rays.
Bloom time
Fall; Summer
Fruit type
Achene
Fruit detail
Achenes are usually 5-ribbed
Stem color
Cream/Tan; Green
Stem detail
Green to tan multi-branched stems can be dense to sparse.
Wildlife & Ecology
Native status
Unknown
Origin
Americas, West Indies
Wildlife value
Attract pollinators, deer resistant
Attracts
Pollinators
Food & Medicine
Fruit type
Achene
Uses (ethnobotany)
Native Americans used the roots to treat snake bites.
Poisonous to Humans; Problem for Children; Problem for Horses; Weedy
Resistant to
Deer
Poison severity
High
Poison parts
Flowers; Leaves; Sap/Juice; Stems
Poison symptoms
Drinking milk from cows that have eaten these plants can cause vomiting. The plant is highly toxic if eaten and may be fatal if eaten. Toxicity is characterized by weakness, nausea, abdominal pain, vomiting, delirium, cardiac damage, prostration and eventually, coma.
Toxic principle
Tremetone, a ketone, and glycosides
Contact dermatitis
No
Toxicity summary
High severity poison; parts: Flowers; Leaves; Sap/Juice; Stems