Rattlesnake Master

Botanical Name: Eryngium yuccifolium

Height: about 70 cm to 1 m

Season of bloom: August

Growing Conditions: Full sun. Good garden soil, not too dry.

Wildlife benefits: From Illinois Wildflowers: “The flowering heads attract many kinds of insects, including long-tongued bees, short-tongued bees, wasps, flies, butterflies, skippers, moths, beetles, and plant bugs.”

From Ottawa Valley or eastern Ontario sources: No. This species is from the American tall grass prairie.

Seeds: Weird looking seeds, like strange spiky insect larvae. Germination Code: C(60) – two months cold, moist stratification. I have to say that some years I do not get a high percentage of germination.

Remarks: Strange, mace-like flower form, not colourful but very interesting.

Similar species: Nope.

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