Prenanthes alba (White Rattlesnake-root)
| Also known as: | White Lettuce, Lion's-foot |
|---|---|
| Genus: | Prenanthes |
| Family: | Asteraceae (Aster) |
| Life cycle: | biennial, perennial |
| Origin: | native |
| Habitat: | part shade, shade; rich woods, thickets |
| Bloom season: | August - September |
| Plant height: | 1 to 5 feet |
| Wetland Indicator Status: | GP: FACU MW: FACU NCNE: FACU |
| MN county distribution (click map to enlarge): |  |
| National distribution (click map to enlarge): |  |
Pick an image for a larger view. See the glossary for icon descriptions.
Detailed Information
Flower: 
![[photo of flowers]](/udata/r9ndp23q/pink/white-rattlesnake-root_0916_175431.jpg)
Flowers hang down on branching racemes that arise from the leaf axils in the upper half of the plant. Individual flowers are about ½ across with 8 to 14 rays (petals) that have small notches at the tip. The styles are longer than the rays and have divided, curved tips; stamens are hidden inside the tube. There are 2 layers of bracts. The outer bracts are short and green. There are 7 or 8 dull pink to purplish inner bracts forming a tube about ½ inch long. Bracts are hairless except for minute hairs around the edges. When fully open the flower is bell-shaped.
Leaves and stem:
![[photo of leaves]](/udata/r9ndp23q/pink/white-rattlesnake-root_0906_115600.jpg)
Leaves are highly variable in shape, largest at the base of the plant and becoming smaller as they ascend the stem. Near the base of the plant they are up to 8 inches long and 10 inches wide and often lobed in 3 to 5 parts. As they ascend the stem the shape usually becomes more triangular, diamond shaped, or oval. All leaves are smooth textured, mostly irregularly toothed and have stalks shorter than the leaf blade. Attachment is alternate. Stems are erect, smooth, unbranched except in the flowers, and often purplish or purple spotted.
Fruit:
![[photo of fruit]](/udata/r9ndp23q/pink/prenanthes-alba-white-rattlesnake-root_0926_163914.jpg)
Fruit is a dry seed with a tuft of cinnamon or rusty colored hair to carry it off in the wind.
Notes:
White Rattlesnake-root is one of the few flowering plants seen in the woods towards the end of summer. It can also be found in smaller forms, typically with smaller, less variable leaves, in rock outcrops and on the rocky shore of Lake Superior. The flower shape is similar to other Prenanthes species, but P. alba is distinguished by its branching clusters of dangling white to pinkish flowers with hairless, purplish bracts, smooth stem and (typically) variable leaf shapes. In some references, P. alba is known by synonym Nabalus albus.
Native Plant Nurseries, Restoration and Landscaping Services ↓
Map of native plant resources in the upper midwest
More photos
White Rattlesnake-root in woodland habitat
White Rattlesnake-root plant in rocky habitat
more flowers
lower leaf variation
lower leaf variation
White Rattlesnake-root in woodland habitat
White Rattlesnake-root plant in rocky habitat
more flowers
lower leaf variation
lower leaf variationPhotos by K. Chayka taken at Long Lake Regional Park, Ramsey County, and Crosby Manitou State Park, Lake County.
Comments
Have you seen this plant in Minnesota, or have any other comments about it?
on: 2009-08-30 06:58:47
Mississippi River mile 711, on edge of friend's property. There are three plants that I have discovered.
on: 2010-09-18 20:09:01
A single plant along a narrow trail through heavy buckthorn, blooming Sepetember 18th, 2010.
on: 2012-08-11 23:36:29
Seen plants in wooded area along the Crow Wing River. Plant is quite nice when in flower.
on: 2012-08-22 21:33:01
I have watched two plants grow from early spring onward and am happy to conclusively identify them.
on: 2014-08-31 18:01:09
Saw for the first time yesterday in UNCAS Dunes SNA.
on: 2015-08-01 14:00:16
A beautiful specimen can be found along Woodland Avenue (by the University) in a wooded area along the sidewalk. This is a beautiful plant. It has taken me over a month to identify it, but now that it is starting to flower, my quest to identify the plant has become easier.
on: 2015-09-23 21:40:37
I bought this plant two years ago from Mississippi Coop in their native plants section! It came up this summer in my north facing shady garden and is nearly 4 ft. tall with tons of flowers on it. I just identified what it is in Northland Wild Flowers by Moyle and Moyle.
on: 2016-08-12 11:41:47
Found several plants along Little Otter road.Have been watching the plant all summer waiting for the blossoms to identify
on: 2016-08-19 13:12:08
I was researching Rattlesnake Root because it just popped up in my wildflower garden. I was thinking it might be invasive so was checking on line and this site came up. Happy to be here. And now happy to know I have a desirable beautiful new blooming plant. The leaves are so interesting; huge and distinctive! i identified it using the book What's Doing the Blooming by Clayton and Michelle Oslund, author and photographer couple who live in Duluth. Thank you for this great web site. Will be using it a lot now.
on: 2016-09-02 20:26:08
Two plants in my short and restoration
on: 2016-09-05 16:28:31
It is flowering now, in September. So glad to know it is a desirable plant. I see it on the edge if the woods.
on: 2017-08-24 10:11:08
Found one in our yard/woods today--what a joy! Twice in 20 years I've seen one along the Root River Trail, but this is the first one here.
on: 2017-08-31 14:01:04
Found several plants...apx 12...one area about 50 ft. diameter...just starting to flower out...orchid area...prairie remnant...just love early fall...they are competing with small aspens...sure hope Mn Dot takes care of those aspens.
on: 2017-09-12 08:29:54
Found one plant flowering on edge of small woods near lake. I could not identify until this website. This is a great website that I will use from now on when a flower has me stumped.
on: 2018-09-02 20:32:10
Full of pretty blossoms on Sept. 1, 2018. I've been walking this road for 28 years and just noticed them blooming. Very pretty.
on: 2020-08-07 16:21:04
Found one plant in flower along Lester river trail while hiking in Lester river park on August 7 2020.
on: 2020-08-31 07:47:31
Along Plantation Road close to Birch Lake on our cabin road.
on: 2020-09-26 12:53:08
I found a White Rattlesnake Root near the Mississippi River in the Twin Cities metro area. I identified it using the Eloise Butler plant guide at: https://www.friendsofthewildflowergarden.org/pages/archive/archplantcommon.html
on: 2021-03-22 10:38:33
on 3/20/21 a small white flower (1/2 " in dia. 5 petals no leaves showing) was blooming in wild flower garden.
on: 2021-03-25 09:47:05
Edwin, it is unlikely that small white flower you saw in March belonged to white rattlesnake-root, which doesn't bloom until late summer.
on: 2021-05-19 16:31:29
These plants are growing on my property near Big Sandy Lake. They are multiplying, but slowly.
on: 2022-09-06 19:05:43
In six years, this is the first time I've seen this plant. I discovered it in a rocky area with lots of leafy matter, about 40 feet from our lake home at the top of a 25 foot rise from Lawrence Lake.
on: 2023-08-16 16:00:19
Blooming on August 16
on: 2023-08-31 19:55:03
Saw a plant in bloom august 24, 2023
on: 2023-09-03 18:49:07
I found this plant growing on the powerline of a friends house in mountain iron Minnesota.