American boneset
Eupatorium perfoliatum
USDA zones3 to 8
SunHandles full sun to full shade
WaterHandles moderate to wet soil
Size4 to 6 feet tall3 to 4 feet wide
- Habit
- Herb
- Bloom season
- Summer, autumn
- Bloom color
- White
- Foliage color
- Green
- Soil types
- Sand, loam, clay, chalk
- Soil pH
- Acid, alkaline, neutral
Garden uses
Attracts
Notes
American boneset (Eupatorium perfoliatum) is a perennial for borders, pollinator gardens, meadows, and rain gardens. It is hardy to USDA zone 3, or down to -40°F (-40°C). This plant likes full sun to full shade and average to wet soil of most types. Deer and rabbits tend to pass it by. Fuzzy clusters of small white flowers top the tall stems, and butterflies, bees, and birds visit them. The paired leaves join at the base, so each stem looks like it grows right through the leaf.
Pairs well with Pickerel weed, Great blue lobelia, and Royal fern.
Native range
Southeastern United States.