PlantFiles: White Snakeroot
Eupatorium rugosum 'Chocolate'

I was thrilled this to find this lovely plant blooming in scattered shady locations around our 15 acres of wooded hill and wetland. I was able to identify it using the CT Botannical Society plant list. It seems to be most robust in the moister areas with good leaf litter, but I have not observed it in the wetland. I'll report back if I do find it there. I have not noticed it on the property in previous years, but I'm just becoming really aware of the wonderful wildflowers in our area. I'd love to have it my shade garden but I'm loathe to disturb any of the native wildflowers; I'll try to collect some seeds. My plant is obviously NOT the cultivar 'Chocolate', but I thought folks would be interested to hear about the wild parent plant.

I planted this plant in a semi-shaded/morning sun bed in the front and it seemed to thrive. I LOVE the dark foliage and the contrasting late-season white flowers.
However, like another poster, mine didn't survive the winter. Someone else mentioned that it seems to prefer wetter areas, so I might try it in a different spot this year.

****update****

Apparently this is a VERY late one to sprout, as of today I have a little nub coming back. So I would advise anyone thinking this one is a goner to give it some time.

A little known species related to the tall Joe pye weed,native to large areas of eastern north america.This new selection has dark bronzy-brown leaves in the spring turning green when the autumn display of fuzzy white flower clusters appear.Excellent for foliage contasts in the border.Attractive to butterflies.Tolerates shade.

Sorry, no personal experience, but did find it in the equine toxic plant list, might be poisonous to other animals as well. Hope this helps.

I have NO clue what caused me to think this plant likes shade, but it's growing under a peegee hydrangea. I do like its late white flowers against its dark leaves - very pretty with dark-leaved cimicifuga and the green-leaved Joe Pye weed in front of my white wood birdhouse with verdigris copper roof. Terrific late season grouping. Let's see what happens when I move it into more sun.

I've not had the invasive problems with this plant but I also mulch well. I have mine in heavy shade as in the sun it wilted and fell over. I had to move it twice to get it out of any afternoon sun. Pretty contrast plant.

I have two of these plants; one in moist shade with 2 hrs of filtered sun in the evening and the other in a drier partially-shaded site. The one in moist shade is doing better hands down. I haven't experienced the self-seeding issues as yet but I am a mulch-aholic so this could be why I haven't found any seedlings. I find the growth habit of this plant in my garden to be very tidy at this stage (2nd year plant) and the foliage is very attractive, especially when companion-planted with dark heuchera. Personally, I don't grow it for the flowers and may cut them off when they appear.

September 2006.....go figure, I found a seedling afterall. It's about 8 inches tall now and I'm not sure how I managed to miss it being there. I love the foliage on this plant but you can be certain I'll be snippety-snipping off those buds so they don't get to flower! Another thing I've noticed on my Eupatorium rugosum.....leaf miners! I removed the affected leaves and so far they haven't come back (crossing fingers).

Could not agree more strenuously with the other negative. The first four or so seasons were great. Nice foliage and pretty late-season white blooms. Then, the horror began and has not stopped. It is one of the WORST re-seeders out there. It will take me years to get rid of it. Don't do it - there are other plants with similar characteristics without the horror.

Victor

I have not got one to make it through the winter yet. Nice for it's flowers and foliage in the shade.

I had no idea that this was the plant I had growing in my butterfly garden but I just IDed.

My plant was growing in the shade of my common milkweed and butterfly bush and it's COVERED in flowers. I appreciate this plant's ability to produce flowers so late in the season b/c it provides an important nectar source for fall migrating monarchs.

I plan on digging up my sole plant and re-planting where it will get complete sun.

This plant is beautiful, but is growing wild in my area. It appeared in my border this year where I neglected to pull it due to it's purple leaves. I was astounded at the beautiful tiny white airy flowers. I have another growing in a more negelected part of my property that is in shade and had green leaves.

This plant reseeds so much that you do not want it anywhere near your perennial border. It may be pretty off in a wild area in early fall, but somehow the seeds seem to arrive back in the border. Everytime I see one I pull and throw away.

Lovely foliage and vigorous grower in full sun area. I've found the foliage loses the chocolage color and vigor in part-shade/shade. Looks especially pretty when placed near a purple or white buddeleia.

One warning - it self-sows prodigiously! I pull hundreds of seedlings every year.

I purchased this plant in April 2002 while living in Dundalk, Maryland. At that time I had only a cement backyard and gardened only in containers. Five months later in September we moved to Cecil County, Maryland (USDA Zone 6b/7a.)

All 250 pots of trees, shrubs, perennials, and ground covers were moved to our new - and COLDER - residence.

Today I checked all pots to find that my 'Chocolate' White Snakeroot is doing extremelly well.

Purchased this plant two seasons ago; so far, it has been very well behaved in a semi-shade bed; the foliage has remained dark, which contrasts nicely with the flowers.