Ageratina aromatica (L.) Spach

Lesser Snakeroot; Small Leaf White Snakeroot; Wild Hoarhound

Herb

Perennial

Vascular

Lesser Snakeroot is a native perennial wildflower in the Sunflower family (Asteraceae). It can be found throughout Alabama. It occurs in pine and mixed pine/hardwood forest on relatively dry sites. Lesser Snakeroot tends to become more common after disturbance such as fire or loss of canopy trees, and declines as the canopy thickens. Lesser Snakeroot grows to a height of one to three feet. It has opposite toothed leaves on a pubescent stem. The flowers are produced in heads arranged in corymbs (a flat topped inflorescence). The flowers are white and there are only disc flowers. Lesser Snakeroot is similar to White Snakeroot (Ageratina altissima (Linnaeus) King & H.E. Robinson), but is a smaller plant with thicker, less sharply toothed leaves on shorter petioles. Hybrids between the two species have been commonly reported. Lesser Snakeroot is sometimes available from wildflower nurseries as plants or seed. It does well in mesic to dry soils in full sun or partial shade. It complements Wild Ageratum (Conoclinium coelestinum (Linnaeus) A.P. de Candolle) and mixed yellow composites in a perennial bed, or it may be used at the woodland edge. Plants slowly increase over time by way of short rhizomes.--A. Diamond

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Native

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