Ageratina altissima

Sizes available: #1 (Trade gallon)

Basics: zone 3-8, 24-36" x 24-36", part sun to part shade, white blooms July to September, perhaps even later, quite adaptable with good drought tolerance, does best with consistent moisture in part shade

Synonym: Eupatorium rugosum

Common names: White Snakeroot, Richweed, White Sanicle

Family: Asteraceae

Origin/Distribution: eastern and central North America; these plants were grown from seed collected in New England and this plant is native to Maine

Habitat: woods, thickets, woodland openings, disturbed shade, shady waterway edges

More: Nectar for a variety pollinators: flies, moths, butterflies, bees, wasps. Also a good cut flower. When in bloom, the highly adaptable and potentially self-seeding Snakeroot lights up shady woodland edges. This plant is toxic to both humans and livestock. If enough is consumed by a grazing animal, the milk and meat from that animal is also poisonous to humans. The foliage is bitter, which decreases the chance of over-grazing by livestock. The plant has also been used medicinally. Deer resistant. Larval host for Phragmatobia assimilans (Large Ruby Tiger Moth), P. lineata (Lined Ruby Tiger Moth), Haploa clymene (Clymene Moth), Melanchra adjuncta (Hitched Dart or Hitched Arches Moth), Leucospilapteryx venustella (Ageratina Leafminer) among others. Also home to these gallformers: Asphondylia eupatorii (Stemgall Midge), Neolasioptera eupatorii, and Schizomyia euparoiflorae.

Nursery: Honey Petal Plants, grown from seed collected in New England

Image credit: Wikimedia Commons