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NC Native Plant Society:
Plant Details

Ageratina altissima [= Eupatorium rugosum]

Common White Snakeroot, Common Milk-poison

Scientific Name:

Ageratina altissima [= Eupatorium rugosum]

Genus:

Ageratina

Species Epithet:

altissima

Common Name:

Common White Snakeroot, Common Milk-poison

Plant Type

Herb/Wildflower

Life Cycle

Perennial

Plant Family

Asteraceae (Aster Family)

Native/Alien:

NC Native

Size:

1-3 ft.

Bloom Color(s):

White

Light:

Sun - 6 or more hours of sun per day, Part Shade - 2 to 6 hours of sun per day

Soil Moisture:

Moist

Bloom Time:

August, September, October

Growing Area:

Mountains, Piedmont, Sandhills, Coastal Plain

Habitat Description:

Moist forests, such as cove forests. Common and widespread in the Mountains; fairly common in the Piedmont, but rare to locally uncommon in the western and central Coastal Plain.

Leaf Arrangement:

Opposite

Leaf Retention:

Deciduous

Leaf Type:

Leaves veined, not needle-like or scale-like

Leaf Form:

Simple

Life Cycle:

Perennial

Wildlife Value:

Has some wildlife value

Landscape Value:

Recommended and Available

State Rank:

S5: Secure (*Key)

Global Rank:

G5 - Secure (*Key)

Notes:

Per Weakley, "this species has been shown to be the cause of the "milk sickness" of pioneer days; the plants contain a poison which is transmissible to humans through cow milk." Attracts butterflies, bees, and moths.
Uncommon on the Coast.

Plant

image

Tom Harville
Oct '08

Bloom heads

image

Tom Harville
Oct '08

Blooms & Buds

image

Tom Harville
Oct '08

Leaf

image

Tom Harville
Oct '08

Links:

USDA PLANTS Database Record



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