Hairy Rattleweed
A federally endangered perennial with dense cobwebby hairs and yellow flowers survives in open longleaf-pine flatwoods in two Georgia counties.
Artwork inspired by Nellie Mae Rowe
The entire plant appears gray-white because long hairs cover leaves and stems. Fire keeps competing shrubs in check and maintains the open sunny ground where it can flower and set pods.
Most surviving habitat is private or protected for conservation. Roadside-looking populations should never be approached, collected, or geotagged.
Silvery hairs and yellow pea flowers help confirm the plant, but its open longleaf-flatwoods setting is equally important. Photograph the whole growth form and surrounding ground without stepping into the tiny remaining populations or disturbing fire-managed habitat.
- Endemic counties
- The species is endemic to a very small area of southeast Georgia.
- Silvery coat
- silvery hairy leaves
- Fire habitat
- open longleaf flatwoods
Quick guide
- Recognition
- Dense silvery cobwebby hairs, three-part leaves, and upright yellow pea flowers.
- Habitat
- Open seasonally moist longleaf-pine flatwoods on sandy soils.
Recognize it through habitat and behavior
- Recognition
- Dense silvery cobwebby hairs, three-part leaves, and upright yellow pea flowers.
- Habitat
- Open seasonally moist longleaf-pine flatwoods on sandy soils.
- Ecology
- Frequent fire maintains light and limits woody competition.
- Time it
- Flowers from June into August; foliage is present through the warm season. Watch from legal public access; keep distance and protect habitat.
Good to know
Use a permitted public conservation program or botanical collection rather than searching private flatwoods; never trespass, collect seed, trample plants, or disclose a sensitive population.
Notice these
- silvery hairy leaves
- yellow pea flower
- open longleaf flatwoods