Button Eryngo
Eryngium yuccifolium
- Native to:
- United States
iNaturalist: © coastalkaylin (iNaturalist #169696940)
Taxonomy
- Division:
- Magnoliophyta | - Flowering plants
- Family:
- Apiaceae
- Genus:
- Eryngium
- Species:
- Eryngium yuccifolium
- USDA Symbol:
- ERYU
Growth Characteristics
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Growth Habit:
- Forb/herb
- Height:
- 180 cm
- Light Requirements:
- Full Sun
- Drought Tolerance:
- High
- Bloom Months:
- jun,jul,aug,sep
- Bloom Colors:
- white, green
Wildlife Benefits
- Bees:
- ★☆☆☆☆ Documented bee visitation (GBIF)
- Butterflies & Moths:
- ★☆☆☆☆ Documented Lepidoptera association (GBIF)
- Caterpillars:
- ★☆☆☆☆ Recorded caterpillar host plant (HOSTS Database)
Host Plant for Caterpillars
eryngo borer moth (Papaipema eryngii)
Reported Fauna Sightings
Bees: Black and (Bombus auricomus), Common eastern (Bombus impatiens), Eastern Carpenter Bee (Xylocopa virginica), Lemon cuckoo (Bombus citrinus), Northern amber (Bombus borealis), Red-belted bumble (Bombus rufocinctus), 🛑Rusty-patched bumble (Bombus affinis), Southern plains bumble bee (Bombus fraternus), ⚠️Western honey bee (Apis mellifera) Moths:Atteva aurea Butterflies:American snout butterfly (Libytheana carinenta), Common Buckeye (Junonia coenia), Euphyes berryi, Fiery Skipper (Hylephila phyleus), Gray Hairstreak (Strymon melinus), Juniper Hairstreak (Callophrys gryneus), ⚠️Monarch butterfly (Danaus plexippus), Red Admiral (Vanessa atalanta), Viceroy butterfly (Limenitis archippus)
Garden & Ecology Notes
- Wildlife Value:
- bees, wasps, butterflies, beetles
- Deer Resistant:
- Yes
- Fire Ecology:
- Fire adapted — tolerates or benefits from fire
- Fire Notes:
- Resprouts vigorously from deep taproot following fire. Historically associated with fire-maintained tallgrass prairies.
Soil Requirements
- Soil Type:
- sandy, well-drained, nutrient-poor soil
- pH:
- 5.5 - 7.0 (slightly acidic to neutral)
- Drainage:
- excellent drainage required
- Moisture:
- dry to moderate
- Notes:
- Prefers open prairies and savannas.
Propagation & Germination
- Stratification:
- Cold/moist stratification required — 60–90 days
- Germination Time:
- 14–30 days
- Notes:
- Cold stratification improves germination. Seeds require light to germinate; surface sow.
The above propagation data sourced from Claude AI
Pre-treatment: Seeds are placed in cold moist stratification for 150 days. If unable to plant in the fall, store the seed dry in cold storage at 34-36 degrees F.
Establishment: Seed is collected by hand from nursery stock. The plant flowers from approx. June 10 to July 30. Seed is harvested about August 27. E. yuccifolium is found throughout the eastern United States west to the Great Plains and from Virginia east to Kansas, Indiana, and Minnesota and south to Texas, Georgia and Florida in open prairie.
Source: npn.rngr.net
ORGHPS Germination Guide: Sow @ 4C.