Florida Betony is a perennial herb typically found in lawns, gardens, and landscapes. It is native to the United States, where its true native range is probably limited to Florida, but it is known throughout the southeast as a common weed. It has been called wild artichoke, but it is not related to the artichoke. The plant produces many seeds, but often reproduces by means of rhizomes and tubers. Small segments of rhizome can sprout into new plants or the tuber may be transported to a new area. It can be found in lawns and ornamentals, where it can be harder to control than in lawns. Weed control in ornamentals may require hand-pulling, with careful removal of all the tubers. Florida Betony is a member of the mint family, which includes aromatic herbs or shrubs and some trees or vines. The plants are characterized by hairy, erect stems reaching 19 inches high that are square in cross-section with flowers in long clusters, heads, or interrupted whorls on the stem. The plant grows from a network of rhizomes with tubers. The distinctive pale-colored tuber is segmented in such a way that it resembles the rattle on the tail of a rattlesnake, hence the common name. The oppositely arranged leaves have blades up to 2 inches long. Flowers grow in clusters of 3 to 6 from the upper leaf axils. The tubular, hairy calyx of sepals has pointed lobes. The two-lipped corolla is up to a 1/2 inch long and white to pink with purple spots. The fruit is a schizocarp less than an inch long that splits in half. Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: It can be an aggressive weedy plant.
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); Shallow Rocky
Soil drainage
Good Drainage | Moist | Occasionally Dry
NC region
Coastal; Mountains; Piedmont
Growth rate
Rapid
Maintenance
High; Medium
Canopy layer
4 - Herbaceous
Form & Appearance
Habit / form
Dense; Erect
Foliage
Deciduous
Leaf color
Green
Leaf arrangement
Opposite
Leaf size
1-3 inches long
Hairs present
No
Leaf detail
The leaves have blades up to 2 inches long.
Flower color
Pink; White
Flower form
Spike
Flower shape
Tubular
Flower size
< 1 inch
Flower detail
Typically blooms from March to June. Flowers grow in clusters of 3 to 6 from the upper leaf axils. The tubular, hairy calyx of sepals has pointed lobes. The two-lipped corolla is up to a 1/2 inch long and white to pink with purple spots.
Bloom time
Spring; Summer
Fruit type
Schizocarp
Fruit size
< 1 inch long
Fruit detail
The fruit is a schizocarp less than an inch long that splits in half.
Stem detail
The plants are characterized by stems reaching 19 inches high with flowers in long clusters, heads, or interrupted whorls on the stem.
Wildlife & Ecology
Native status
Unknown
Origin
Florida
Distribution
Southeastern United States
Food & Medicine
Edible parts
Tubers
Fruit type
Schizocarp
Edibility
Tuber is edible and is said to have a pleasingly crunchy texture and a bland, slightly sweet taste.