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Asteraceae
Boneset
Eupatorium perfoliatum
Healing, restoration, mending.
- Family
- Asteraceae
- Genus
- Eupatorium
- Native to
- Eastern and central North America
- Bloom season
- Late Summer, Fall
- Type
- Herbaceous perennial
- Height
- 60–150 cm
- Sunlight
- Full sun to part shade
- Soil
- Moist to wet
- Water
- High
- Hardiness
- 3–8
- Lifespan
- Long-lived perennial
Did you know
- Boneset is named not for healing broken bones but for its historical use treating 'breakbone fever' — an old name for dengue fever.
- The leaves are joined at the base around the stem, making it look as if the stem grows right through the middle of each leaf — the species name perfoliatum captures this perfectly.
- It was one of the most widely used medicinal plants in 19th-century America, used to treat fevers, colds, and influenza in nearly every household.
- The flat-topped clusters of fuzzy white flowers are powerful nectar sources for late-summer pollinators including monarchs, swallowtails, and dozens of native bees.
- Boneset and joe-pye weed are close cousins and often grow side by side in wet meadows, blooming at the same time.
Color meanings
White
Quiet recovery