Eupatorium Species, Boneset, Thoroughwort, Feverwort, Agueweed, Indian Sage

In my time growing native wildflowers I've never seen a plant attract so many different species of wasps, bees and flies at the same time...Read More. My boneset was especially prolific this past growing season and several times I observed close to a dozen or more separate species. The plant may not provide the aesthetic wow that many gardeners demand, but if you love to watch and observe insects boneset is a must for you! Of course you also get the added benefit of all these insects providing added biodiversity to your gardens and surrounding areas.

This is called "goat weed" in deep east Texas, where it grows abundantly at the edge of the woods. Thank you for identifying it for me -...Read More I had been wondering what it was all about. In this area, it thrives either in moist conditions or dry-as-a-bone highway shoulders. I don't know if it's considered noxious by definition, but it likes to crop up in the middle of azalea beds or at the edges of the hay pastures. Not prized, though, that's for sure.

I've mostly seen it as a wild plant in moist or wet meadows in southeast PA and other areas of eastern North America. It is offered by na...Read Moretive plant nurseries as Prairie Nursery in Westfield, WI or North Creek Nursery in se PA. It is a pretty perennial that is very good for pollinators with its white flower clusters in late summer and early autumn. Its name of Boneset comes from the highly textured leaves that clasp the stems and were once believed to facilitate the setting and healing of bones. It can be grown in a regular garden in rich, moist soil.

This stuff thrives in the muddy clay next to my creek. It grows so well there, I have to keep chopping it back to leave some room for the...Read More milkweed. In addition to butterflies, the blooms attract large numbers of bumblebees, sweat bees and flower wasps. That's great for the native pollinators, but it kind of puts the area off-limits to humans. I also find that the hairy stems irritate my skin. So a good plant, but not for areas too close to humans.