Small-leaf white snakeroot is a native perennial in the aster (Asteraceae) family. It is found in the eastern and southern United States from LA to MA as far inland as KY and OH. It is found growing along the edges of woodlands, after fires and in disturbed areas such as roadsides, fences and edges of fields. In NC it is common in the coastal and Piedmont areas and rarer in the mountains. Genus name is derived from the Greek meaning 'un-aging', in reference to the flowers keeping their color for a long time. Small-leaf white snakeroot grows 2-3 feet tall and 1-3 feet wide. This plant will do well in a variety of soils as long as they are well-drained. It tolerates drought once established and prefers full sun to light shade. The white disc flowers appear in Aug. and continue through Oct. or Nov. attracting bees and butterflies. The green arrow-shaped leaves are fuzzy on both surfaces. Use this plant in pollinator and native gardens, on slopes, naturalized areas or at the edge of woodlands. Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: No significant problems.
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; Loam (Silt); Sand; Shallow Rocky
Soil pH
Acid (<6.0); Neutral (6.0-8.0)
Soil drainage
Good Drainage | Occasionally Dry
NC region
Coastal; Mountains; Piedmont
Mature size
Height: 2 ft. 0 in. - 3 ft. 0 in. | Width: 1 ft. 0 in. - 3 ft. 0 in.
Growth rate
Medium
Maintenance
Low
Canopy layer
4 - Herbaceous (3-15 ft)
Form & Appearance
Habit / form
Erect
Texture
Medium
Leaf color
Green
Leaf type
Simple
Leaf arrangement
Opposite
Leaf shape
Lanceolate; Ovate
Leaf margin
Crenate; Serrate
Leaf size
1-3 inches long, < 1 inch wide
Hairs present
Yes
Leaf detail
Green leaves are 1-3.5 inches long and 1/2 to 2 inches wide. Margins are crenate and sometimes serrate. The tip is pointed and the base is wedge-shaped. Both surfaces have fuzzy hairs
Flower color
White
Flower form
Head
Flower shape
Tubular
Flower size
< 1 inch
Flower detail
Flowers are white disc flowers only with no rays. There are 12-34 florets per flowerhead. Florets are tubular and 1/2 inch in size. The green bracts surrounding the flower head are hairy. Blooms Aug. through Oct or Nov.
Bloom time
Fall; Summer
Fruit color
Brown/Copper
Fruit type
Achene
Fruit size
< 1 inch long, < 1 inch wide
Fruit detail
Achene is brown with white tufts of hair. Seeds are wind dispersed.
Stem color
Green
Stem detail
Flower stems are wiry and have hairs
Wildlife & Ecology
Native status
Native
Origin
Eastern and southern USA
Distribution
AL, CT, DC, DE, FL, GA, KY, LA, MA, NC, NJ, NY, OH, PA, RI, SC, TN, VA, WV
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