Seneca Snakeroot
Senega officinalis
- Native to:
- Canada, United States
uwdigitalcollections (www.flickr.com)





Taxonomy
- Division:
- Magnoliophyta | - Flowering plants
- Family:
- Polygalaceae
- Genus:
- Senega
- Species:
- Senega officinalis
- USDA Symbol:
- POSE3
Growth Characteristics
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Growth Habit:
- Forb/herb
- Height:
- 40 cm
- Light Requirements:
- Full Sun
- Drought Tolerance:
- Medium
- Bloom Months:
- may,jun,jul
- Bloom Colors:
- white
Garden & Ecology Notes
- Deer Resistant:
- Yes
Soil Requirements
- Soil Type:
- rich, well-drained loamy soil
- pH:
- 5.5 - 7.0 (slightly acidic to neutral)
- Drainage:
- excellent drainage required
- Moisture:
- consistently moist
- Notes:
- Prefers undisturbed habitats with organic matter
Propagation & Germination
- Stratification:
- Cold/moist stratification required — 60–90 days
- Germination Time:
- 14–42 days
- Notes:
- Seeds benefit from cold stratification. Germination can be erratic.
The above propagation data sourced from Claude AI
Pre-treatment: Cold-moist stratification for 30 days at 1–5°C (34–41°F).
Source: Claude AI