There are other Eupatoriums that are cultivated in gardens. A few, like Eupatorium capillifolium (Dogfennel), are weedy creatures but are sold by various nurseries (with glowing descriptions) as native plants. I'm certain that I wouldn't give this one room. Some, like the following, can be fine additions to the border. The Southwest School of Botanical Medicine: Eupatorium maculatum, Eupatorium perfoliatum PLANTS National Database: Plant distribution maps. The PLANTS Database, from the United States Department of Agriculture, provides standardized information about plants, including standardized plant names, symbols and other plant attribute information as well as some photographs. This site has vastly improved in appearance, but because you have to wait for all the images on the page to load before you see anything, it means a very long wait.
- Eupatorium coelestinum, (Mist Flower, Hardy Ageratum) is a rhizomatous plant reaching from one to three feet (30cm - 1 m) tall and up to 1.5 feet (45 cm) wide. It can be invasive. I once grew this one and enjoyed it until it started to commandeer a bit more space than I wanted it to. It will grow in sun or part shade and is a nice filler for late summer color, if you have the space. It is hardy from USDA zones 6 to 10 and tolerates the hot, humid summers in southern states like Florida.
- Eupatorium rugosum, (White Snake Root) is the most attractive and widely grown of several similar white-flowered species, such as E. perfoliatum. It's found in wooded areas throughout most of the eastern United States, down through Georgia and into Texas. It has a long flowering period — July to October. BUT, this plant is toxic to cattle, sheep and horses and should not be allowed to stray into pasture land. White Snake Root gets between two feet (60 cm) and four feet (121 cm) tall and one to two feet (30 - 60 cm) wide and is rated hardy from USDA zones 3 - 10.
There's another 'Harbinger of Fall' I'll tell you about next time. See 'ya later.
* ITIS The Interagency Taxonomic Information System (ITIS) is a database of scientifically credible taxonomic information, the result of a US federal effort. The ITIS includes documented taxonomic information of flora and fauna from both aquatic and terrestrial habitats. Geographic coverage is worldwide with emphasis on North American taxa.
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