Boneset

Growing Conditions

Growing Zones

Thrives in USDA Zones 3 - 9

Companion Planting

When to Plant

• Direct Sow

  Direct sow in autumn for natural stratification, or cold-stratify seed 30 days and spring sow when soil reaches 60°F

• Harvest

  Seeds mature in September - October; collect seed heads before wind dispersal

Organic Growing Tips

• Leave seed heads standing through winter; they provide food for small seed-eating birds and structure for overwintering insects.

• Cut back to 6 inches in early spring before new growth emerges to tidy the plant.

• Divide established clumps every 3 - 4 years in spring to maintain vigor.

• Do not deadhead - the seed heads are ecologically valuable and the plant self-sows beneficially in naturalized settings.

Common Pests

• Aphids
• Leaf Miners
• Caterpillars

Taxonomy

Kingdom

Plantae

Family

Aster family (Asteraceae)

Genus

Eupatorium

Species

perfoliatum

Natural History

Eupatorium perfoliatum is native to moist meadows, floodplain forests, streambanks, and wet prairies across eastern and central North America. The common name "boneset" refers to the use of the plant by early American settlers to treat dengue fever (then called "break-bone fever") - a disease so named for the severe joint and bone pain it causes - rather than to any use in setting broken bones. The characteristic perfoliate leaves (leaves that appear to be pierced through by the stem) were interpreted by Doctrine of Signatures adherents as indicating a use for bones. Boneset was one of the most important medicinal plants in 19th-century American medicine, appearing in the United States Pharmacopeia from 1820 to 1916. Eclectic physicians used it extensively for influenza, fevers, and catarrhal conditions, often in the form of a hot infusion designed to induce sweating. Pharmacological research has confirmed immunostimulating polysaccharides in the plant, providing a biological basis for some traditional uses. The flat-topped white flower clusters are ecologically outstanding for small native bees, wasps, and beetles - species that are unable to access deeper tubular flowers but find the shallow nectar of Eupatorium easily accessible.

Traditional Use

Boneset is among the most thoroughly documented medicinal plants in North American Indigenous tradition, with use recorded across more than 20 nations in the ethnobotanical literature. It was also one of the most widely prescribed plants in 19th-century American Eclectic medicine, and achieved United States Pharmacopeial status for nearly a century. Its primary documented applications center on febrile illness, influenza, and musculoskeletal pain.

• Iroquois (Haudenosaunee) peoples, documented by Herrick (1977) - Aerial parts

  Among the most extensive ethnobotanical documentation of boneset comes from Iroquois nations, where Herrick recorded its use for colds, fevers, and general bodily pain. The plant was prepared as a hot decoction or infusion and used to induce sweating during febrile illness, consistent with use across numerous other eastern Indigenous nations.

• Ojibwe (Chippewa), documented by Densmore (1928) - Aerial parts

  Densmore documents Ojibwe use of boneset for febrile conditions and as a general strengthening tonic. The plant was particularly associated with treatment of influenza-like illness, and its use during epidemic conditions was recorded by multiple observers in the 18th and 19th centuries.

• American Eclectic medicine, 19th century (United States Pharmacopeia 1820-1916) - Aerial parts

  Boneset was one of the cornerstone plants of American Eclectic medicine and appeared in the United States Pharmacopeia for nearly a century. Eclectic practitioners used it primarily as a diaphoretic (sweat-inducing) agent in influenza, dengue fever, and febrile conditions, typically prescribed as a hot infusion. The common name "boneset" derived from its use in treating break-bone fever (dengue), characterized by severe bone and joint pain. King's American Dispensatory (1898) dedicates extensive discussion to its applications and preparations.

Boneset contains unsaturated pyrrolizidine alkaloids in small amounts, which are hepatotoxic in large quantities. The plant is generally considered safe in typical medicinal preparations as a short-term remedy for acute illness, but should not be used in large doses, over extended periods, or during pregnancy. The hot infusion (tea) used in traditional practice is considered lower-risk than alcoholic extracts. Consult a healthcare provider before use.

This information is provided for historical and educational purposes only and is not medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional before making decisions related to your health.

Morphology (Plant Structure & Identification)

• Root System

  Fibrous, spreading root system forming dense clumps; not deep; plants expand by short rhizomes to form colonies over time.

• Stem

  Stout, hairy, unbranched stems 3 - 5 feet tall; the stem appears to pass through the center of the leaf pair (perfoliate) - the most distinctive identification feature.

• Leaves

  Opposite, lance-shaped, paired leaves that are fused at the base so the stem appears to pierce them; wrinkled, hairy, fragrant when crushed.

• Flowers

  Dense, flat-topped corymbs of tiny white tubular flowers; individually small but collectively conspicuous and highly attractive to insects; bloom July through September.

• Fruit

  Small, ribbed achenes topped with white bristly pappus hairs; wind-dispersed; form dense seed heads in autumn.

Known Varieties

Common cultivars worth knowing

• Straight Species

  Seed-grown boneset from wild or cultivated sources; the ecologically most valuable form with full pollinator support value.

  Best for: Pollinator meadows, naturalized plantings, wet or moist sites, late-season bloom