09/06/2026
This time of year, if you wander through Iowa woodlands that have ever been pastured, you are likely to spot vibrant bright white flowers such as these. The plant is a native perennial called white snakeroot.
It holds a pretty interesting history for all the settlers that would’ve been in the area back in the day. Dairy cattle that eat the plant pass a toxin on to people that drink the milk from the cattle and have caused what was called milk sickness. Even the meat from the cattle can pass on the poison. It killed many settlers and it took some time for them to figure out the cause. The plant is one of the last plants left when cattle graze, but if it is the last one standing, apparently is consumed also. Sources indicate that Abraham Lincoln’s mother died from the sickness. Horses and other livestock also were affected. Today the processing of dairy products prevents issues with this dairy threat.
With that said, it does provide late blooms for pollinators as one of a handful of plants that bloom well into autumn. The photos show a native bee enjoying the nectar / pollen from the plant. Observe it out in the timber and understand that it has some history with humans and still provides benefits to such important pollinators.
