White Rattlesnake-root is one of my favorite native forbs, but it's a biennial which means most people aren't that interested in it as a garden plant (it can also act as a monocarpic plant that will live for a few years as a basal rosette before bolting, flowering, setting seeds, and then dying).
Anyway, this one is pretty easy to start from seed, but I've had trouble establishing it on my property. It seems to like mesic but well-drained soils (I've only ever seen it growing on woodland slopes in the wild). Regardless, I'm going to keep trying to find a place on my property where it will persist. This one had a bunch of pollinators visiting it (and the flowers smell wonderful to boot!)
by LRonHoward
6 Comments
Wow, I’m not familiar with this one. Gorgeous flowers.
We should form the Nabalus Appreciation Society. They are tough, beautiful little asters
I’ve only seen this plant in the wild once and it was on a woodland slope in mesic conditions like you said. I totally agree that it’s definitely an underrated native!
I’m glad you posted because I’ve had my eye out for this but didn’t realize the other common name of white lettuce.
Is this the same as prenanthes alba? If so which is the correct name?
TIL this is not only native to my area, but also reported on my neighbor’s land on iNat. I have propagating to do.