American Boneset Eupatorium perfoliatum
Other Common Name(s):
- Phonetic Spelling
- yoo-puh-TOR-ee-um per-foh-lee-AH-tum
- This plant has low severity poison characteristics.
- See below
- Description
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Boneset is a large herbaceous, clump-forming rhizomatous perennial herb in the aster (Asteraceae) family that is native to the eastern USA and Canada and as far west as TX, NB and the Dakotas. It can be found in various kinds of wetlands, including marshes, bogs, fens, seeps, edges of rivers, sandy flats and ditches. The plant will grow 4-6 feet tall with a 2-4 foot spread and can form colonies.
The Latin name, Eupatorium, is derived from Eupator, a 1st century BCE king of Pontus, famed for his herbal skills. The species name, perfoliatum, means "through the leaf" since the stem seems to grow through the paired leaves.
Boneset has small white flowers that appear in late summer and fall. The plant grows well in average, medium to wet soils with a consistent water source. It prefers full sun or part shade and tolerates both sandy and clay soils with plenty of organic matter. It will tolerate short-term occasional flooding.
Use this plant in the native pollinator garden and wetland areas such as ponds, streams, marshes or rain and water gardens.
This plant was selected as the 2003 NC Wildflower of the Year, a program managed by the North Carolina Botanical Garden with some financial support from the Garden Club of North Carolina.
Diseases, Insects, and Other Plant Problems: No serious insect or disease problems. Foliage may scorch if soils are allowed to dry out.
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Native Woodland Garden, Durham
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Eupatorium
- Species:
- perfoliatum
- Family:
- Asteraceae
- Uses (Ethnobotany):
- Historically used in herbal medicine for the treatment of cases of flu, fevers, colds, and a variety of other maladies.
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Division
- Seed
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Eastern and central USA and Canada
- Distribution:
- AL , AR , CT , DC , DE , FL , GA , IA , IL , IN , KS , KY , LA , MA , MD , ME , MI , MN , MO , MS , NC , ND , NE , NH , NJ , NY , OH , OK , PA , RI , SC , SD , TN , TX , VA , VT , WI , WV Canada: MB , NB , NS , ON , PE , QC
- Fire Risk Rating:
- low flammability
- Wildlife Value:
- Attracts butterflies and bees. Various moths use this plant as a host. Some birds will eat the seeds
- Particularly Resistant To (Insects/Diseases/Other Problems):
- Deer and rabbit resistant
- Edibility:
- Toxic and bitter
- Dimensions:
- Height: 4 ft. 0 in. - 6 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 3 ft. 0 in. - 4 ft. 0 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Herbaceous Perennial
- Native Plant
- Wildflower
- Habit/Form:
- Clumping
- Erect
- Maintenance:
- Low
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
- Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
- Soil Texture:
- Clay
- High Organic Matter
- Loam (Silt)
- Sand
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Moist
- Occasional Flooding
- Occasionally Wet
- Available Space To Plant:
- 12 inches-3 feet
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- Mountains
- Piedmont
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 3a, 3b, 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b
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Fruit:
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Fall
- Fruit Type:
- Achene
- Fruit Description:
- Achenes have small tufts of hair for wind dispersal. Fruit displays from September to November.
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- White
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Corymb
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Fragrant
- Good Cut
- Good Dried
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Fall
- Summer
- Flower Shape:
- Star
- Tubular
- Flower Size:
- < 1 inch
- Flower Description:
- Tiny fragrant white tubular disc florets occur in clusters of 10-20. Numerous small clusters form larger clusters that are 2-8 inches across and occur at the tops of the stems and upper leaf axils. Each floret has 5 spreading petal-like lobes and a long 2-parted, thin style. The bracts at the base of the flowers are light green with some white at the tips. They are in 1-2 layers and are oblong, hairy and gland-dotted. Bloom time is July to Sept.
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Leaves:
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Leaf Feel:
- Rough
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Opposite
- Leaf Shape:
- Lanceolate
- Leaf Margin:
- Serrate
- Hairs Present:
- Yes
- Leaf Length:
- > 6 inches
- Leaf Width:
- 1-3 inches
- Leaf Description:
- The yellow-green leaves have a wrinkled look, are finely toothed, and their bases join to surround the stem. Lower leaves are larger, up to 8 inches long and 2 inches wide. Veins are conspicuous and undersides are hairy. Upper leaves are smaller and sessile.
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Stem:
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Surface:
- Hairy (pubescent)
- Stem Description:
- The central stem and side stems are covered with long white hairs.
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Meadow
- Pond
- Riparian
- Woodland
- Landscape Theme:
- Butterfly Garden
- Native Garden
- Pollinator Garden
- Rain Garden
- Water Garden
- Design Feature:
- Border
- Attracts:
- Bees
- Butterflies
- Pollinators
- Songbirds
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Deer
- Rabbits
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Poisonous to Humans:
- Poison Severity:
- Low
- Poison Symptoms:
- It causes vomiting and has a laxative effect laxative in large doses. May cause dermatitis. Potential for liver damage if used long-term. Drying the plant parts helps to decrease toxins.
- Poison Toxic Principle:
- pyrrolizidine alkaloids
- Causes Contact Dermatitis:
- Yes
- Poison Part:
- Flowers
- Leaves
- Seeds
- Stems
