Characteristics:

Ascending along the central stem that ranges from 3 to 5 feet in height, branches opposite each other, reach outward with white compound corymb inflorescences  3 to 4 inches across crowning each branch. The flowers are are small, fluffy, bright white composites with rays absent. At the base of each branch are dark green, nettle-like, leaves 3 to 6 inches in length. They are lanceolated with with sharp-toothed margins. (MBG)

Culture:

Having better shade tolerance than most other species of their kind, Ageratina altissima var. Altissima is fairly easy to please. They can grow in average, medium to wet, well-drained soils at varying degrees of sun and shade. They perform at their best in part shade with moist, humus rich soil, but will do reasonably well in dryish soils.

They’re easily grown from seed, and should be deadheaded often to prevent unwanted spread. (MBG)

Toxicity: 

The toxin in white snakeroot associated with “milk sickness” is called tremetol. Milk sickness affected settlers who drank milk produced from cows who ate white snakeroot. Those infected experienced nausea, dizziness, weakness, trembling, convulsions, and death. Treatment for milk sickness often required consuming something that provoke vomiting, followed by intense intoxication by apple brandy and honey. Despite these efforts, many settlers across western North Carolina and Kentucky in the 1800’s died as a result of consuming this milk. This included Abraham Lincoln’s mother, and Thomas Wolfe’s sister. 

Medicinal Properties:

It is documented that Native Americans used a decoction made from the roots to treat snake bites. It is also a diaphoretic, expectorant, and an antispasmodic.

 Ageratina altissima var. Altissima

White Snakeroot

Family: Asteraceae

Type: Perennial

Height: 3’ - 5’

Spread: 2’ - 4’

Bloom: White, September to Frost

Water: moist to medium

Sunlight: full sun to part shade

Soil: loam or clay-loam

Tolerates: deer

Propagation: seed and rhizome

Plant Communities