No medicinal garden is complete without Eupatorium perfoliatum, a native perennial with a long history of use in traditional Native American herbalism that is now regaining traction as a beneficial selection for pollinators! Its common name, Boneset, refers to its believed medicinal properties, as well as to the foliar arrangement along the stiff, hairy, upright stems: Boneset leaves are quite distinctive, connecting at their bases to encircle the stem, appearing as though the stem punctures directly through the central axis of the leaves, resulting in its specific epithet. Herbal practitioners believed this characteristic was a signifier of the plant’s ability to mend broken bones, although Eupatorium perfoliatum also has quite an extensive history as a diaphoretic for breaking fevers, as well as a remedy for colds and flus. In the world of pollinators, the dense, flat-topped clusters of white flowers that appear from July into September provide a whirlwind of delectable pollen and nectar that is sought out by various bee and wasp species, moths, butterflies, ants, and beetles. Eupatorium perfoliatum has a native range throughout low-lying thickets, damp woodland edges and clearings, meadows, swamp edges and streambanks, performing spectacularly in areas with consistently moist to wet soils and occasional flooding. In locations where it receives consistent moisture and is allowed to naturalize, it may create large colonies of individual plants reaching between 4-6’ in height. Just when you think it can’t get any better, Eupatorium perfoliatum is both deer and rabbit resistant and wonderful for use in restoration and bioremediation projects where moisture and herbivory are concerns.

• Category: Perennials
• Hardiness Zone: 3
• Height: 60 Inches
• Spread: 40 Inches
• Bloom Color: White