Beneath my redbud, awash in spring with pink flowers, arises a new set of blooms. White ones, in late summer.
These are the flowers of white snakeroot, a plant that reaches 3 to 4 feet tall, up to the lowest heart-shaped leaves of the redbud. From late summer through fall, snakeroot provides nectar to pollinators such as native bees moths and flies. In winter, birds eat the seeds.
This common native plant, however, is toxic to mammals, including humans. Some folks might not wish to plant it in their yards if they have children or pets, but if you do plant it snakeroot adds a lovely dimension to the autumn landscape.
Its history and folklore are tied to Native Americans and European settlers.
Early peoples are believed to have made a poultice out of the plant’s roots to heal snake bites, hence its name. However, that’s likely just a legend, and modern medicine has no proof of its healing powers.
When settlers came to North America, they learned the hard way about this poisonous plant. Pioneers noticed that livestock that grazed on local vegetation were experiencing tremors and dying. So, too, were settlers who drank cow milk.
Humans had muscle spasms, constipation and delirium and, according to some accounts, snakeroot caused the death of many early settlers who drank milk from cows who ate it. Half of those who died in the early 1800s in parts of Ohio and Indiana likely died from milk sickness.
One of the victims was said to be Abraham Lincoln’s mother. Nancy, who died on Oct. 5, 1818, at the age of 34 when Abraham was just 9 years old.
Pioneers also noticed that livestock that fed only in cultivated pastures remained healthy. With help from a Native American woman, they realized that livestock that eats snakeroot passes it on to whomever drinks its milk or eats its meat.
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Today, farmers keep their livestock away from snakeroot. According to author and homesteader Tom Harkins, milk sickness was not eradicated until the early 20th century.
White snakeroot grows in eastern North America, as far north as southern Canada and as far south as northern Texas. It’s found in every county in Illinois including in suburban and urban areas, even along shady sidewalks and in parks.
It grows 2 to 4 feet tall, with 2-5-inch-long and 1-3-inch wide leaves. The upper leaves of the white snakeroot plant are much larger than the more oval-shaped lower leaves. The larger leaves also are covered with tiny, fuzzy white hairs. It often goes unnoticed until groups of white flowers emanate an inch or two from the ends of the stems.
Indeed, I had forgotten about the snakeroot until the blooms opened in early September. I also found another group of snakeroot growing elsewhere, and have learned it can be invasive. I also notice these plants when roaming around natural areas in September.
They can be prolific filling in open woods, showing off their white inflorescences in autumn. Other plants in the wild, including poison ivy of course as well as pokeweed and American holly, have varying degrees of toxicity. Like snakeroot, they have their place in the ecosystem.
Snakeroot, for example, evolved with insects such as moths that sip the nectar without getting ill. An animal that eats a moth that sipped snakeroot nectar quickly learns to avoid that moth. Snakeroot also has large, flower clusters that offer a place for insects to court and mate.
The story of snakeroot and other poisonous plants is a reminder of the unique interactions among plants and animals. It’s also a reminder to avoid picking plants in the wild, especially if you cannot identify them.
Before planting new species in your yard, learn more about them. You’ll often find fascinating, historical information about what grows outdoors in our part of the world.
Sheryl DeVore has worked as a full-time and freelance reporter, editor and photographer for the baiduhai and its subsidiaries. She’s the author of several books on nature and the environment. Send story ideas and thoughts to [email protected].