Virginia ecotype
Duration: Perennial
Habit: Upright, open, clump-forming, occasionally rhizomatous
Size: Typically 2 to 4 feet tall; about half as wide
Flowering Time: August to October
Bloom Color: White
Habitat: Dry open fields, prairies, pine barrens, roadsides, and sandy meadows
Moisture: Dry to average; prefers well-drained soils
Light: Full sun to part sun
Soils: Sandy or loamy; tolerates poor, dry soils
Uses: Pollinator gardens, meadow plantings, xeriscaping, native prairie restoration, erosion control on dry slopes
Eupatorium hyssopifolium (Hyssop-leaf thoroughwort)
Hyssop-leaf thoroughwort grows 2 to 4 feet tall with narrow, linear leaves resembling those of hyssop, giving the plant a delicate, airy texture. From late summer into fall, it produces flat-topped clusters of small, white, fluffy flowers typical of the boneset family, that attract a great range of pollinators, particularly beneficial wasps and small native bees, butterflies, and moths.
This species thrives in difficult habitats: sandy fields, pine barrens, and roadsides, and is well adapted to nutrient-poor or drought-prone soils, making it a strong candidate for xeriscaping and native meadow restoration. It pairs well with many native grasses, such as little bluestem, and other drought tolerant species.
Its tolerance for poor soils and dry conditions makes it a useful plant for erosion control and ecological landscaping, particularly in projects aimed at supporting pollinator networks in sunny, disturbed areas.