Rattlesnake Master (Eryngium yuccifolium) is in the carrot family family (Apiaceae). Across the U.S., iNaturalist users have logged 878 research-grade flowering observations of it in our sample, peaking in July.
Nationally it blooms mainly from June to August, but timing varies a lot by state and elevation — see the table below.
When to photograph Rattlesnake Master: observations by month (U.S.)
About Rattlesnake Master
Eryngium yuccifolium (button eryngo, button snake-root, or rattlesnake master) is a herbaceous perennial plant of the parsley family native to the tallgrass prairies of central and eastern North America, from Minnesota east to Ohio and south to Texas and Florida, including a few spots in Connecticut, New Jersey, Maryland, and Delaware.From Wikipedia via iNaturalist — article, CC BY-SA.
Rattlesnake Master by state
| State | Observations | Peak month | Main season |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mississippi | 164 | July | Jun–Jul |
| Wisconsin | 103 | July | Jul–Aug |
| Illinois | 76 | August | Jul–Aug |
| Iowa | 75 | July | Jul–Aug |
| Ohio | 68 | July | Jul–Aug |
| Arkansas | 67 | July | Jun–Jul |
| North Carolina | 47 | July | Jun–Jul |
| Florida | 44 | June | May–Jul |
| Indiana | 42 | July | Jul–Aug |
| Texas | 42 | July | Jun–Jul |
| Minnesota | 24 | July | Jul–Aug |
| Alabama | 23 | June | Jun–Jul |
| Kentucky | 23 | July | Jun–Jul |
| Missouri | 16 | July | Jun–Jul |
| Georgia | 13 | June | Jun–Aug |
| Kansas | 7 | August | Jul–Aug |
| Louisiana | 7 | July | Jun–Oct |
| Michigan | 6 | August | Aug–Aug |
| South Carolina | 6 | June | Jun–Aug |
| Maryland | 5 | July | Jul–Jul |
| Tennessee | 5 | August | Jun–Sep |
Main season = months with at least 30% of the state's peak-month count.
Related wildflowers (carrot family)
Wild Carrot
Poison Hemlock
Harbinger of Spring
Common Cowparsnip
golden Alexanders
Purple Sanicle
Aniseroot
Wild Parsnip
Photography tips
- Photograph flowers on calm, overcast mornings to avoid wind blur and harsh shadows.
- Get low: a shallow depth of field (f/2.8–f/5.6) isolates a bloom against soft color.
- Stay on trails — trampling meadows kills plants and ruins next year's display.
- Try a kaleidoscope abstract of a single bloom with our online kaleidoscope tool.
FAQ
When is the best time to photograph Rattlesnake Master?
Nationally, July has the most observations, with the main season from June to August.
Where is Rattlesnake Master most often seen?
The most observations come from Mississippi, Wisconsin, Illinois.