What’s Coming Up In The Garden, 47: boneset (+ a little miracle)

I was happy to see this for sale last fall at the NC Botanical Garden, and I bought 3 plants and put them in my shady bed. They’ll have late summer white flowers which will be quite nice in the bed. They’ve overwintered well and are growing nicely!

The little miracle:

The second hazelnut tree that I thought was dead has suddenly put out leaves! I’m very happy to see it and glad that I didn’t buy a replacement (the feed store had a few but they sold out before I snagged one online!). I’ve put small mounds of compost around each of the trees to give them some extra nourishment this spring as they grow.

More info on boneset:

Brundage, Stephanie 

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. The dried leaves have also been used to make a tonic, boneset tea, thought effective in treating colds, coughs, and constipation. Upland Boneset (E. sessilifolium) is somewhat similar, but its leaves are not fused at the base.