Bloomipedia
Rattlesnakeweed (Hieracium venosum)
Photo: adam busey via iNaturalist · CC0 · resized

Flower profile

Rattlesnakeweed

Hieracium venosum

Native in the lower 48

Rattlesnakeweed is a wildflower that USDA PLANTS lists as native in the lower 48 states. It's on our flower lists for 3 states, and across the U.S. it's most often seen in bloom in April–June.

25states
3of our state lists
11,030U.S. sightings*

*iNaturalist research-grade observations, as of October 17, 2026.

On our lists for: Georgia, Maryland, Virginia

Quick look

Hieracium venosum is a species of hawkweed in the tribe Cichorieae within the family Asteraceae. It is widespread and common in south-central Canada (Ontario) and the eastern United States. Its common name comes from the fact that environments it is found in are typically also a home to rattlesnakes.

  • It belongs to the Asteraceae family. iNaturalist
  • USDA PLANTS describes it as an herb (forb) with a perennial life cycle. USDA PLANTS
  • USDA PLANTS lists it as native in the lower 48 states and records it in 25 states. USDA PLANTS
  • NatureServe lists it as native to Virginia, Maryland and Georgia. NatureServe
  • In Virginia, most iNaturalist sightings of it in flower come in April–June. iNaturalist
  • In Maryland, most iNaturalist sightings of it in flower come in April–June. iNaturalist
  • iNaturalist has 2,576 research-grade sightings of it in Virginia, ranking #66 among the 110 flowers on our Virginia list. iNaturalist
  • iNaturalist has 1,479 research-grade sightings of it in Maryland, ranking #89 among the 110 flowers on our Maryland list. iNaturalist
  • iNaturalist has 1,132 research-grade sightings of it in Georgia, ranking #76 among the 111 flowers on our Georgia list. iNaturalist

Rattlesnakeweed gift ideas

Handmade rattlesnakeweed gifts from independent makers.

🌱 Sample spot. Handmade gift picks from independent shops will appear here once our shop partnership is approved. These cards are placeholders, not real products.

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    Rattlesnakeweed art print

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When does it bloom?

Flowering records by month across the U.S. (iNaturalist research-grade observations marked “Flowering”) (508 records)
Bloom time in each of our 3 states
StateTypePeak bloomSightings*
VirginiaNativeApril–June2,576
MarylandNativeApril–June1,479
GeorgiaNativeApril–June1,132

Conservation status

Federal (U.S. ESA)
Not listed No U.S. Endangered Species Act listing in the USFWS ECOS database. USFWS ECOS
NatureServe global
G5 Secure worldwide. NatureServe
Virginia
Not listed Not on Virginia endangered and threatened plant and insect species (2VAC5-320-10). NatureServe: S5, secure in Virginia. 2VAC5-320-10
Maryland
Not listed Not on Maryland threatened and endangered plants (COMAR 08.03.08.05, .06 and .08). NatureServe: SNR, not yet ranked in Maryland. COMAR 08.03.08
Georgia
Not listed Not on Georgia protected plants (Ga. Comp. R. & Regs. 391-4-10-.09; a 2026 update is proposed). NatureServe: S5, secure in Georgia. Ga. R. 391-4-10-.09
Rare elsewhere
Other states where NatureServe ranks it rare or missing: ME (S1), MS (S1). (S1 critically imperiled, S2 imperiled, SH possibly extirpated, SX presumed extirpated.)

Checked October 17, 2026. Rankings and lists can change, so follow the links for the latest.

Can you eat it?

For peopleNot well documented

None of the sources we checked (NC State Extension (no edibility or poison notes on its page), USDA PLANTS) say whether it's edible or poisonous for people. NC State Extension

For petsNot well documented

It isn't on the ASPCA plant list, and NC State Extension doesn't flag it for pets.

🌿 Never eat a wild plant unless you're certain of its ID; this isn't medical advice. Worried about a person? Call Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222. Worried about a pet? Call your vet.

Where does it grow?

USDA PLANTS records rattlesnakeweed in 25 states plus Washington, D.C.

recorded by USDA PLANTS on our state lists not recorded

See the full list of states

Alabama, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Indiana, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia; District of Columbia.

Virginia counties with USDA records: Accomack, Albemarle, Alleghany, Amelia, Amherst, Appomattox, Arlington, Augusta, Bath, Bedford, Bland, Botetourt, Brunswick, Buckingham, Campbell, Caroline, Carroll, Charlotte, Chesapeake , Chesterfield, Clarke, Craig, Culpeper, Cumberland, Dickenson, Dinwiddie, Essex, Fairfax, Fauquier, Fluvanna, Franklin, Frederick, Giles, Gloucester, Goochland, Grayson, Greene, Greensville, Halifax, Hampton , Hanover, Henrico, Henry, Highland, Isle of Wight, James City, King George, King William, King and Queen, Lancaster, Loudoun, Lunenburg, Madison, Mecklenburg, Middlesex, Montgomery, Nelson, New Kent, Newport News , Northampton, Northumberland, Nottoway, Orange, Page, Patrick, Pittsylvania, Powhatan, Prince Edward, Prince George, Prince William, Pulaski, Rappahannock, Richmond, Roanoke, Rockbridge, Rockingham, Scott, Shenandoah, Smyth, Southampton, Spotsylvania, Stafford, Surry, Tazewell, Virginia Beach , Warren, Washington, Westmoreland, Wythe, York.

Georgia counties with USDA records: Banks, Bartow, Bibb, Carroll, Cherokee, Clarke, Cobb, Columbia, Dawson, DeKalb, Elbert, Floyd, Forsyth, Fulton, Gilmer, Gwinnett, Habersham, Hall, Harris, Hart, Lincoln, Madison, Meriwether, Morgan, Murray, Oconee, Oglethorpe, Rabun, Randolph, Spalding, Talbot, Telfair, Union, Upson, Walker, Walton, White.

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Sources