Host an Event Volunteer Join Tickets

Support the plant database you love!

Share

Plant Database

Search for native plants by scientific name, common name or family. If you are not sure what you are looking for, try the Combination Search or our Recommended Species lists.

Enter a Plant Name:
Or you can choose a plant family:
Ageratina altissima var. altissima (White snakeroot)
Cressler, Alan

Ageratina altissima var. altissima

Ageratina altissima (L.) King & H. Rob. var. altissima

White Snakeroot

Asteraceae (Aster Family)

Synonym(s): Ageratum altissimum, Eupatorium rugosum, Eupatorium rugosum var. chlorolepis, Eupatorium rugosum var. tomentellum, Eupatorium rugosum var. villicaule, Eupatorium urticifolium var. tomentellum

USDA Symbol: AGALA

USDA Native Status: L48 (N), CAN (N)

An erect, much-branched perennial up to 4 ft. tall. Large, opposite, pointed-oval leaves. Flowers are tiny, pure white, and in flattish clusters near the top of the stalk.

 

From the Image Gallery

16 photo(s) available in the Image Gallery

Plant Characteristics

Duration: Perennial
Habit: Herb
Size Notes: Up to about 4 feet tall.
Fruit: Fruit is a cypsela (pl. cypselae). Though technically incorrect, the fruit is often referred to as an achene.

Bloom Information

Bloom Color: White
Bloom Time: Jul , Aug , Sep , Oct , Nov

Distribution

USA: AL , AR , CT , DC , DE , FL , GA , IA , IL , IN , KS , KY , LA , MA , MD , ME , MI , MN , MO , MS , NC , ND , NE , NH , NJ , NY , OH , OK , PA , RI , SC , SD , TN , TX , VA , VT , WI , WV
Canada: NB , NS , ON , QC , SK
Native Distribution: Eastern Canada to Sask., s. to WV, upland GA & e. TX
Native Habitat: Rich woods; thickets; clearings; shady river bottoms

Growing Conditions

Light Requirement: Part Shade , Shade
Soil Moisture: Moist
Soil pH: Circumneutral (pH 6.8-7.2)
Soil Description: Rich soils.
Conditions Comments: Spreads by seed and can become weedy.

Benefit

Conspicuous Flowers: yes
Attracts: Birds

Propagation

Description: Sow seeds in the fall and plant thickly as germination is usually low. Vigorous portions of mature clumps can be divided in spring or fall.
Commercially Avail: yes

From the National Organizations Directory

According to the species list provided by Affiliate Organizations, this plant is on display at the following locations:

Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center - Austin, TX
Stengl Biological Research Station - Smithville, TX
Mt. Cuba Center - Hockessin, DE

Web Reference

Webref 38 - Flora of North America (2019) Missouri Botanical Garden, St. Louis, MO & Harvard University Herbaria, Cambridge, MA.

Additional resources

USDA: Find Ageratina altissima var. altissima in USDA Plants
FNA: Find Ageratina altissima var. altissima in the Flora of North America (if available)
Google: Search Google for Ageratina altissima var. altissima

Metadata

Record Modified: 2022-10-31
Research By: TWC Staff

Go back