common boneset

Eupatorium perfoliatum

Common boneset is a tall plant with pretty white flowers that bloom in late summer. It grows in wet places and is loved by butterflies and bees!

Habitat: Wetlands

Appearance

The common boneset has stiff, hairy stems and distinctive, wrinkled leaves that appear to be pierced by the stem. Its small, fuzzy white flowers grow in flat-topped clusters, creating a cloud-like appearance from late summer to fall.

KingdomPlantaePhylumTracheophytaClassMagnoliopsidaOrderAsteralesFamilyAsteraceaeGenusEupatorium

common boneset

Interesting facts

Did you know its leaves look like the stem is growing right through them?

Hundreds of tiny white flowers huddle together to make one big, fluffy flower cloud!

Indigenous peoples used common boneset for aches and fevers for centuries!

This plant loves to grow where its "feet" are wet, often near swamps and streams!

Special abilities

Common boneset has unique leaves that join around the stem, forming a cup to collect rainwater for the plant.

Common boneset can produce bitter compounds in its leaves, helping it to deter many hungry animals from eating it.

Common boneset can thrive in very wet soils, using adaptations that help its roots get enough oxygen.

Measurements & details

Height: 90-180 cm
Spread: 30-60 cm
Flower Size: 0.3-0.5 cm
Bloom Season: Late Summer to Fall (July-October)
Edible: No
Toxicity: Mild
Lifecycle: Perennial
Pollination Method: Insect

Ecological connections

pollinates

Honey bee

Apis mellifera

Visits flowers for nectar and pollen.

pollinates

Common eastern bumblebee

Bombus impatiens

Important pollinator for its flowers.

pollinates

Monarch butterfly

Danaus plexippus

Nectar source for migrating monarchs.

eaten by

White-tailed deer

Odocoileus virginianus

May browse leaves when other food is scarce.

depends on

Larkspur Flower Moth

Schinia mitis

Larvae feed specifically on boneset seeds.

Traits

Deciduous

Deciduous plants periodically shed all their leaves, typically during autumn or dry seasons.

Ornamental

Ornamental plants are cultivated primarily for their aesthetic appeal, enhancing landscapes and gardens with their attractive foliage, flowers, or form.

Cluster Flower

Cluster flowers are inflorescences where individual flowers are arranged closely together on a common stem.

Summer Blooming

Summer blooming plants produce their flowers during the summer season, often providing vibrant color when many other plants have finished.

Medicinal

Medicinal plants possess chemical compounds that can be used for therapeutic purposes to treat illnesses or maintain health.

Pollinator Magnet

Describes plants that are particularly attractive and beneficial to a wide range of pollinating organisms.

Wetland

This habitat trait identifies species found in wetlands, which are areas of land saturated with water, either permanently or seasonally, including marshes, swamps, and bogs.