Boneset: a great addition to your native garden

August 26, 2022| Education, Environment

By: Marty Kane

This summer has borne witness to the benefits of native plants. Native plants are strongly recommended by horticulturalists because they are adapted to the local area, require less water, are less susceptible to pests and diseases, and do not generally need fertilizer. While our native gardens at the historic Lake Hopatcong station have certainly been stressed by the lack of rain, they have survived. Several have gone into early dormancy but should be back good as new next year. 

Despite the drought conditions we have been experiencing, we were thrilled to see one of our native plants thriving and covered with buds this week. Boneset is a perennial plant native to the eastern United States and Canada and widely found from Novia Scotia to Florida. As you will notice from the boneset in our garden, it is a tall plant growing 3' to 6' high before dying back in the fall and starting up again next spring. 

Though its small white flowers are not grand, they grow in plentiful clusters that are quite uniquely beautiful. In our area, boneset generally blooms in late summer and its flowers extend until fall. It likes full or partial sun and will grow in pretty much any type of soil. Boneset is about as deer resistant as you can get and will do well in rain gardens. 

As you might guess from the name, boneset has had numerous medical uses over the years. It was a favorite medicine of Native Americans who used it for a host of ailments including respiratory infections, fevers, poor digestion, and rheumatic pains. Early American settlers used boneset as a cure-all for the common cold, coughs, and various other ailments. It took the advent of aspirin in the 20^th century to displace boneset as a popular remedy. Boneset is also a pollinator with the nectar of its flowers attracting butterflies, bees, and some birds.  

If you are looking for an interesting addition to your garden next season, why not consider boneset? And meanwhile, please stop by our gardens (125 Landing Road, Landing) and take a look!