Dormant Boneset Live Plant, 3.5 inch pot

Boneset brings native wildflower beauty and serious pollinator appeal to the garden. The clusters of fuzzy white flowers attract butterflies, bees, and other beneficial insects in impressive numbers. The unusual perfoliate leaves — where the stem appears to grow through joined leaf pairs — make it easy to identify even when not in bloom.

This wetland native appreciates consistently moist soil and full sun to part shade, growing 2-4 feet tall in good conditions. While it prefers wet feet, established plants tolerate average garden conditions reasonably well. Boneset is slow to establish but long-lived once settled, and it self-seeds moderately if conditions suit it.

Herbalists traditionally work with boneset as a bitter herb, particularly valued during fevers and for supporting immune function. The aerial parts are harvested when flowering. Native American healers valued boneset highly and shared their knowledge with European settlers, who adopted it so enthusiastically it became a staple of American folk medicine. The name "boneset" refers to its traditional use during dengue fever (called "break-bone fever"), not for setting broken bones. Its bitter taste is legendary — this is serious medicine that announces its potency.