Animals who ingest this plant are prone to muscle necrosis, an infection of soft tissue, and cardiotoxicity, leading to heart damage. White snakeroot is toxic to livestock and also causes illness in humans who consume milk from affected animals. Altissima has flowerheads that are not cusped and are 3 to 5 mm long, while roanensis has cusped flowerheads that are 4 to 7 mm long. The difference between these two varieties is in the shape of their flowerheads.

There are two types of white snakeroot: altissima and roanensis. White snakeroot is traditionally found in dry areas with shade, rarely growing more than five feet tall. It usually sprouts around 12 to 25 white flowers per head when blooming. Its branches lay low to the ground, and its leaves are short and broad. White snakeroot displays compressed growth. However, white snakeroot has its disadvantages, too.

Another benefit of white snakeroot is its leaves, which can be used to treat snakebite wounds and wake people who have fainted, typically using the smoke of its burning leaves. Its roots can be brewed in tea and used to treat fever, diarrhea, or kidney stones. Besides providing these insects with food, white snakeroot offers insects a place to mate. Once it has bloomed, its seeds are carried away by the wind and planted in other places where the snakeroot will continue to spread.īees, moths, and butterflies are particularly fond of white snakeroot since its white flowers provide them with plenty of nectar and pollen as the seasons change from summer to fall. Typically a small, inconspicuous plant reaching anywhere from one to four feet tall, white snakeroot grows discreetly, spreading its dark and leafy greens around shaded areas until the fall, when its white flowers appear. White snakeroot is a weed that grows throughout spring and summer, its white flowers blooming in fall. One state where white snakeroot is frequently found is Missouri, where it is often discovered in woodlands with trees and rocky terrains.

White snakeroot ( ageratina altissima) is a plant that can be found in the eastern United States, often in wooded areas. Here, we will discuss the white snakeroot. Some are commonly known for being harmful, such as poison ivy and poison oak, while others may simply give you pause. With so many plants out there, though, it’s hard to keep track of them all and to know which ones are safe and which ones aren’t. In fact, there are over 300,000 known plant species, with more being discovered annually. There are an abundance of plant species out there, including some that are known and some that are not.

Snakeroot andrea robertson