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Common Roundleaf Eupatorium

Eupatorium rotundifolium (yoo-puh-TOR-ee-um ro-tun-di-FOH-lee-um)

Family: Asteraceae Native Herbaceous

Roundleaf thoroughwort is a native perennial in the aster (Asteraceae) family found in eastern and central USA including NC. Typically found in wooded locations, savannas and bogs, it can tolerate both wet and dry conditions. The leaves can give you a key to distinguish this species of Thoroughwort from other species. The paired, roundish or rotund, gray/green leaves as well as its stalkless form distinguish it from Eupatorium pubescens , which grows taller, and has an olive-green tone to its sharply toothed, oval-shaped leaves. Roundleaf throroughwort has low, rounded teeth on its leaf margin. The leaves of Roundleaf Thoroughwort are generally opposite but can also be alternate. It typically dies to ground level during the winter months, only to emerge again in the springtime with rosettes of rounded leaves. As the seasons progress, the plant will continue an upward growth pattern, reaching a typical height of 3'. Some may grow taller. Each single stem can have a few branches near the upper part. The branches will have a few heads of flowers. Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: No serious issues with insects or diseases. Prolonged exposure to drought conditions can cause the foliage to scorch.

Source: NC State Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox ↗ NC State Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox, 57 attributes.

How it fits the guild

Guild layer 4 - Herbaceous Optimal soil pH Neutral (6.0-8.0)
See companions & conflicts ↓

Companions & Conflicts

Curated pairwise relationships between this plant and others in the library — who feeds whom, who competes, who confuses the pests. Green reads as a good pairing, red as one to avoid.

No curated interactions recorded for this species yet.

Also noted by NC State

Related species the NC State Plant Toolbox flags for this plant — look-alikes to tell apart, and plants that play a similar role in a planting. Ones we carry in the library are linked.

Full plant profile

Growing Conditions
Plant type
Herbaceous Perennial; Native Plant; Wildflower
Life cycle
Perennial
USDA zones
4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b
Light
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day) | Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
Soil texture
Sand
Soil pH
Neutral (6.0-8.0)
Soil drainage
Moist | Occasionally Dry | Occasionally Wet
Available space
Less than 12 inches; 12 inches-3 feet
NC region
Coastal; Piedmont
Growth rate
Rapid
Maintenance
Medium
Canopy layer
4 - Herbaceous
Form & Appearance
Habit / form
Erect
Texture
Medium
Leaf color
Gray/Silver; Green
Leaf type
Simple
Leaf arrangement
Alternate; Opposite
Leaf shape
Deltoid; Ovate
Leaf margin
Crenate; Serrate
Leaf size
1-3 inches long, < 1 inch wide
Hairs present
No
Leaf detail
Rosettes of rounded blunt toothed leaves each having 3 prominent veins from the base. The leaves can be green to gray in color.
Flower color
White
Flower value
Showy
Flower form
Head; Umbel
Flower shape
Irregular
Flower size
< 1 inch
Flower detail
The flower heads each contain 5 disk florets. Each umbel of flower heads can reach 6" across.
Bloom time
Fall; Summer
Fruit type
Achene
Stem color
Cream/Tan; Green
Stem detail
A single stem will arise from a short rhizome.
Wildlife & Ecology
Native status
Native
Origin
US Native
Distribution
AL, AR, C, DC, DE, FL, GA, IN, KU, LA, MA, ME, MS, NC, NH, NJ, NY, OH, PA, RI, SC, TN, TX, VA, WV
Wildlife value
The flowers attract large numbers of native bees as well as butterflies. Birds will eat the seeds.
Attracts
Bees; Songbirds; Specialized Bees
Play value
Attractive Flowers; Attracts Pollinators; Easy to Grow; Wildlife Food Source
Food & Medicine
Fruit type
Achene

Uses (ethnobotany)

Mass planting in woodland or meadow.

Landscape Use
Landscape location
Meadow; Naturalized Area; Woodland
Landscape theme
Native Garden; Pollinator Garden; Rain Garden; Water Garden
Design feature
Mass Planting
Garden tags
#native perennial #native garden #easy to grow #wet soils tolerant #herbaceous #showy #herbaceous perennial #dry soils tolerant #NC native #NC Native Pollinator Plant #rabbit resistant #deer resistant #bird friendly #bee friendly #moth friendly
Problems & Resistance
Resistant to
Deer; Dry Soil; Fire; Rabbits; Wet Soil
Particularly resistant to
Deer and rabbit resistant
Propagation
Seed
Fire risk
low flammability

Planted at Hunnicutt

Nobody’s planted this one yet.