Eupatorium perfoliatum 'Blind Date' - BONESET 'BLIND DATE'

Cultivar of native wildflower with chocolate-red leaf color in early season, bronze-red later on in the full sun.

Bud and white flowers from July further on. Pollinator magnet for the late summer! Vigorous and sturdy.

Another wonderful introduction from plant breeder and nursery man Brent Horvath of Intrinsic Perennials!

Grows well in average soil with average moisture (up to wet soils).

Deer and rabbit resistant, black walnut tolerant.

Blooming time : mid to late July - August/September

Size : 4-5’ high x 2-3' wide

USDA zones : 3 to 7/8

Culture: sun (grows well in half shade, but the leaf color will be less pronounced).  Average soil, loamy clay, clay, sandy soil

Moisture Needs : average=medium, medium-moist, moist up to wet

Origin : garden origin selection, breeding and selection made by Brent Horvath (Intrinsic Perennial Gardens, IL). Bre had introduced similar cultivar 'Milk n' Cookies' earlier. But the difference with 'Blind Date' is darker, more red and more wide and shiny leaves. It's also more robust - grows up to 4-5', while 'Milk n' Cookies' reaches 3'. Patented plant under PP35173, propagation is prohibited.

The species of E. perfoliatum is native to the eastern half of USA, see the BONAP distribution map. Common boneset naturally occurs in wet or moist soils along rivers, flood plains, openings in wet forests, etc.

Deer/rabbit resistant : yes/yes, bitter to herbivores

Attracts Butterflies or Pollinators : Excellent pollinator plant, attracts many kinds of insects, including bees, flies, wasps, butterflies, and beetles. The red leaf color more or less protects the plant from being efficient host plant.

Attracts Hummingbirds : no, but swamp sparrows may feed on the seeds

Pot Size : square 3.5" x 5" deep pot

Pictures copyright : Brent Horvath, Intrinsic Perennial Garden

Plant combinations: Sunny borders, pollinator gardens, butterfly gardens, wildflower gardens, cottage gardens, woodland gardens or banks of ponds, rain gardens or water gardens, erosion control or medicinal gardens.

Can be combined with both wildflowers and use as wetland or moist soil plant with Asclepias incarnata, Aster puniceum, Aster novae-angliae, Eupatorium, Helenium autumnale, Hibiscus moscheutos or other, Iris (versicolor, virginica, lousiana), Lobelia, Mimulus, Rudbeckia laciniata, Solidago rugosa, Vernonia, Verbesina alternifolia, grasses - wetland Carex, Panicum and other. 

But it will also go well with conventional perennials like Hemerocallis, Iris sibirica, Iris spuria, Leucanthemum, tall Phloxes, Persicaria, Paeonia, Sanguisorba, Vernonia and grasses.