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Common boneset – planting and care tips for the wild perennial

Common water eupatorium / Eupatorium cannabium
The common boneset (Eupatorium perfoliatum) is particularly popular with butterflies Photo: iStock / Nazar Prosovych

November 7, 2024, 4:26 pm | Read time: 3 minutes

The common boneset is an impressive wild perennial that attracts numerous insects with its nectar-rich flowers. Butterflies are particularly attracted to this native plant, which can often grow as tall as a man, and it attracts them with its dense inflorescences from July to September. Find out what this wild beauty needs to thrive here at myHOMEBOOK.

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At first glance, the leaves of the common boneset (Eupatorium perfoliatum) might lead to some mistaken assumptions! But then you’d be wrong. Although the plant is sometimes referred to as water hemp, it is not related to the well-known cannabis hemp. The plant only got this name because its palmately pinnate leaves are reminiscent of hemp leaves. And to rule out another possible confusion with the common water hemp: Even with the true dost (Origanum vulgare), which is known to many as oregano, the water dost has nothing more in common than the name.

This herbaceous, perennial plant is widespread across Europe, as well as in West Asia and North Africa. It grows mainly in damp meadows, on the banks of ditches and streams, and in riparian forests, often in the company of alders and ash trees. Historically, the common boneset was primarily used for its medicinal properties, particularly for its immune-boosting effects. Its use is now advised against because the plant contains toxic pyrrolizidine alkaloids.

What does common boneset look like?

Common boneset typically grows to at least 60 centimeters tall, but it can often reach heights of up to 175 centimeters. In width, it measures about half a meter. Its upright stems are reddish in color. From July to September, sometimes even into October, large umbrella panicles with small flowers appear at the ends, ranging in color from light pink to copper-red. White flowers also occur, but rather rarely.

Location and soil requirements

The perennial prefers a sunny to semi-shady location with humus-rich, nutrient-rich and moist soil. The sunnier the location, the more water it needs.

Care

Common Boneset requires minimal care. However, the plant should never dry out. Watering in less humid locations is therefore probably the most important care measure. It is advisable not to water too often but to water thoroughly. If the plant becomes too large, it can be divided in early spring.

Use in the garden

Due to its preference for moist soil, common waterbush is best suited to garden ponds or moist woodland edges. Its slightly wild charm makes it an attractive candidate for near-natural gardens. It is suitable for borders, herbaceous borders, and wildflower beds and combines well – for example, with Japanese marsh lily, meadow rue, meadowsweet, purple loosestrife, globeflower, or marsh sedge.

Propagation

If you wish to propagate common boneset, you can allow it to self-seed naturally. It is also possible to propagate the plant in spring by sowing seeds or cuttings. If there is already enough water azalea in the garden, the inflorescences can be cut off before the seeds are ripe to prevent new growth. However, this has the disadvantage that the winter beauty of the plant cannot come into its own. Decorated with hoarfrost, the inflorescences are a wonderful addition to the monotony of the cold season.

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Ecological benefits

Common watercress is ecologically very valuable. This is partly due to its flowering period, which lasts around three months, and partly due to the fact that a large part of the flowering period falls in August and September when there are comparatively few flowers. During these months, many other native flowering plants have already finished flowering. Honeybees, bumblebees, and other wild bees, as well as numerous hoverflies, like to fly to the perennial.

However, butterflies are particularly attracted to the common water azalea. A total of 45 species are said to feed on the plant, including the imperial cloak, Russian bear, and admiral.

This article is a machine translation of the original German version of MYHOMEBOOK and has been reviewed for accuracy and quality by a native speaker. For feedback, please contact us at info@petbook.de.

Topics Garden plants
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