White Snakeroot, Ageratina altissima, is a common plant found in the woodlands of eastern North America. In the past white snakeroot was often ingested by dairy cattle which caused a toxic compound called tremetol to be excreted in their milk. If this milk was then consumed by a person, they could be poisoned and develop milk sickness. I discuss why this was a problem in the past and why you never hear about it today, even though white snakeroot is an incredibly common plant in many places.

Hope you enjoy it!

Anthony

Thanks Anthony, this is the story I always tell when I introduce people to this plant. Generally, normal people aren't very interested in plants unless there is an interesting story that goes with it, but I can easily get people to remember this one as the plant that killed Abe Lincoln's mother.

My brother does graze dairy cows. So this YouTube video is very interesting to say the least. Now I know which plant to remove from the pasture. I appreciate the well- thought- out videos you produce, Anthony T. You probably have the most informative posts on trapperman. Not to put anyone else down, just my worthless 2 cents. I do appreciate the hard work you put into this.

jht - People often look at plants as boring because they don't do anything - then if you can show them plants do all kinds of cool things they get into them. Tons of chemicals plants produce that can heal or kill - or even do both depending on the dosage or way it is prepared.

run - Thanks for the kind words! I have fun making the videos and do it as a way to teach people about all the cool stuff we have right here in our own backyards.

I have been gather seed from the Snakeroots in my woods in the last couple of days. I'll spread them around so there are more of them in my woods.
If any farmers cows get loose in my woods it'll be my sweet revenge

I have a bunch of this growing out back mixed in with the jewell weed, and it's in full bloom now, and is swarming with butterfly's, bees and moths.

It is blooming full force here in south central KY too. Plenty of butterflies and native bees on it. Also a few honey bees which is odd for this area - they generally leave it alone.

Got into hives yesterday and the bees are still packing in the nectar and pollen. Probably mostly goldenrod, although I have seen the bringing pollen I think maybe from snakeroot.

Saw some monarch butterflies nectaring on snakeroot this morning. Butterfly migration is going non-stop here in KY right now.

What about Honey made from the flower?? Is it toxic?

BigBob - I have never heard or read anything about honey being a problem. Honeybees don't work it very hard and not at all in some areas. They prefer goldenrod to just about anything else in the fall.

I found out I have White Snakeroot in my woods, and I graze goats. It's a pain. I talked to UW Extension today and they said I need to be careful to keep the goats away. So now I have to make sure my buckthorn eating goats don't eat White snakeroot. Always something, ugh. Now I need to devise a plan for this issue. It's easy to see when it's in full bloom. I pulled some tonight.

Goats mostly won't eat plants that are toxic to them unless they are about starved to it.

I've only got 1 small, solid patch of snakeroot on my farm, that I know of.

Frequent mowing will eradicate most weeds, if there's space to mow or weed whack it. I turned some smaller fields, that were mostly weeds, into mostly grass, just by mowing or haying them enough the weed seed bank got depleted. Most weeds don't recover as well as grass after being cut, which helps too.

Keith

Do goats like bitter graze? The film said it was very bitter.

White Snakeroot is pretty aggressive, spreads easily.
I have been spreading its seed in my woods and its to the point that I feel there is no need to help it as it is getting around by itself at this point.

I watch my neighbors land that butts up to mine.
Makes me happy to see stuff that I have been planting and encouraging spread to his place too.

What if they don't want it?

Then they'll have to figure a way to get rid of it. Just like I do with all the invasive crap that has found its way onto my place.

But like most landowners they are on the lazy/ignorant side when it comes to their land.

I'd be surprised if they recognize any of the "volunteers" that drift over from my place, germinate and grow in their overgrown spots.

Nature finds a way.

In the end its a positive thing that these plants that are native to this area and have been for the most part either eliminated or nearly so are making a come back.
Its not only the White Snakeroot but also Pale Indian Plantain, Yellow Coneflowers and Indian Grass that I see reestablishing themselves across the fence line.
The more stuff that gets firmly established on my place then floats over to the neighbors the better.

Good question.

I'll research this more.