Kendall County (IL) Forest Preserve District
Common
Boneset
(Feverwort)
Eupatorium perfoliatum
[C-value
4]
Aster family (Asteraceae)
Blooms July -
September
The native Common Boneset is common in our area. It prefers full or partial sun and wet to moist soil with considerable organic material to retain moisture. Habitats include openings in floodplain forests, poorly drained areas of black soil prairies, and various kinds of wetlands. This perennial is 2-4' tall with a central stem and side stems covered with white hairs. The opposite leaves are up to 8" long and 2" across, lance-shaped and toothed with long narrow tips and their bases clasp the central stem. The upper stems terminate in clusters of white flowers, spanning about 2-8" across. Each tiny flower is about 1/6" across with about 15 disk florets.
Common Boneset at Maramech Forest Preserve July 30, 2014
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Common Boneset at Lyon Forest Preserve lower fen July 22, 2015
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Common Boneset (not yet blooming) at Oswego Presbyterian Church Monarch Waystation June 16, 2017
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Common Boneset at Oswego Presbyterian Church Monarch Waystation July 8, 2017
Native Americans used Common Boneset dried leaves in a tea as a laxative, to treat colds and flu, and to kill tapeworms. It was also used by African Americans in the south in the treatment of dengue fever to break that “break-bone-painful” fever and hence “set” one right again. It got another name “Feverwort” because it really did help break the fever. Reminder: see our Do Not Disturb Notice.
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