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Eupatorium perfoliatum
Eupatorium perfoliatum L.
Common Boneset
Asteraceae (Aster Family)
Synonym(s):
USDA Symbol: EUPE3
USDA Native Status: L48 (N), CAN (N)
Tiny, white flowers are arranged in fuzzy clusters top the 3-6 ft. stems of this perennial. Hairy plant with dense flat-topped clusters of many dull-white flowers. Paired leaves, united basally, are "perforated" by the erect stems.
As suggested by the Latin species name, the stem appears to be growing through the leaf. To early herb doctors, this indicated the plant would be useful in setting bones, so its leaves were wrapped with bandages around splints. Upland Boneset (E. sessilifolium) is somewhat similar, but its leaves are not fused at the base.
Plant Characteristics
Duration: PerennialHabit: Herb
Size Notes: Up to about 6 feet tall, often shorter.
Fruit: Fruit is a cypsela (pl. cypselae). Though technically incorrect, the fruit is often referred to as an achene.
Bloom Information
Bloom Color: WhiteBloom Time: Jun , Jul , Aug , Sep , Oct
Distribution
USA: 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 , WVCanada: MB , NB , NS , ON , PE , QC
Native Distribution: E. Canada to FL, w. to e. Dakotas, w. NE, e. KS & n. TX
Native Habitat: Damp prairies; alluvial woods; bogs
Growing Conditions
Light Requirement: Sun , Part Shade , ShadeSoil Moisture: Moist , Wet
Soil Description: Moist to wet soils
Benefit
Use Medicinal: The dried leaves have been used to make a tonic, boneset tea, thought effective in treating colds, coughs, and constipation. (Niering)Conspicuous Flowers: yes
Attracts: Birds , Butterflies
Nectar Source: yes
Value to Beneficial Insects
Special Value to Native BeesSupports Conservation Biological Control
This information was provided by the Pollinator Program at The Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation.
Propagation
Description: Sow seeds in the fall and plant thickly as germination is usually low. Clumps can be divided in spring or fall.Seed Treatment: Seeds germinate when incubated at 70-85 degrees in the presence of light.
Commercially Avail: yes
Find Seed or Plants
Find seed sources for this species at the Native Seed Network.
View propagation protocol from Native Plants Network.
National Wetland Indicator Status
Region: | AGCP | AK | AW | CB | EMP | GP | HI | MW | NCNE | WMVE |
Status: | FACW | FACW | FACW | OBL | FACW |
From the National Organizations Directory
According to the species list provided by Affiliate Organizations, this plant is on display at the following locations:Crosby Arboretum - Picayune, MS
Native Seed Network - Corvallis, OR
Mt. Cuba Center - Hockessin, DE
Bibliography
Bibref 946 - Gardening with Prairie Plants: How to Create Beautiful Native Landscapes (2002) Wasowski, SallyBibref 1294 - The Midwestern Native Garden: Native Alternatives to Nonnative Flowers and Plants An Illustrated Guide (2011) Adelman, Charlotte and Schwartz, Bernard L.
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Web Reference
Webref 38 - Flora of North America (2019) Missouri Botanical Garden, St. Louis, MO & Harvard University Herbaria, Cambridge, MA.Research Literature
Reslit 193 - A comparison of demographic characteristics in a rare and a common species of Eupatorium (1997) D. L. Byers and T. R. MeagherReslit 525 - The effect of purple loosestrife (Lythrum salicaria L,; Lythraceae) on the pollination and reproductive success of sympatric co-flowering wetland plants (1999) G. P. Grabas and T. M. Laverty
Reslit 442 - Attractiveness of Michigan native plants to arthropod natural enemies and herbivores (2007) A. K. Fiedler and D. A. Landis
Reslit 548 - Cytotoxicity and antibacterial activity of ethanol extract from leaves of a herbal drug, boneset (Eupatorium perfoliatum) (2000) S. Habtemariam and A. M. Macpherson
Reslit 1228 - Relationships of the new england boneset, Eupatorium novae-angliae (Asteraceae) (2007) E. E. Schilling, R. J. Leblond, B. A. Sorrie and A...
Reslit 1643 - An evaluation of mechanisms preventing growth and survival of two native species in invasive bohemian knotweed (Fallopia x bohemica, Polygonaceae) (2007) T. J. Siemens and B. Blossey
Reslit 2209 - Cell shape and cell volume relations in the pith of Eupatorium perfoliatum L (1944) J. W. Marvin
Reslit 2286 - Effect of cross proximity on progeny fitness in a rare and a common species of Eupatorium (Asteraceae) (1998) D. L. Byers
Reslit 2389 - Pollen Quantity and Quality as Explanations for Low Seed Set in Small Populations Exemplified by Eupatorium (Asteraceae) (1995) D. L. Byers
Reslit 2582 - A cytotaxonomic study in the genus Eupatorium (1953) W. F. Grant
This information was provided by the Florida WIldflower Foundation.
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Additional resources
USDA: Find Eupatorium perfoliatum in USDA PlantsFNA: Find Eupatorium perfoliatum in the Flora of North America (if available)
Google: Search Google for Eupatorium perfoliatum
Metadata
Record Modified: 2022-12-27Research By: TWC Staff