Eupatorium compositifolium Walter

Coastal Dog Fennel; Yankee Weed

Herb

Perennial

Vascular

Coastal Dog Fennel is a native herbaceous short-lived perennial in the Sunflower family (Asteraceae). It is native to the southern half of Alabama. Coastal Dog Fennel occurs on dunes, in dry to moist pine woodlands, in clear cuts, in pastures, in fallow fields, and on roadsides. It is a perennial from a short rhizome or crown. Stems are solitary or more often several in a clump. The stems are 3-6 feet in height, green or reddish-brown in color, and pubescent. The stems are branched above the middle. Leaves are opposite, sessile, pinnately lobed or dissected, with the leaf segments linear. There are often short branches or fascicles of smaller leaves in the axils of the main stem leaves. The leaf segments are pubescent and gland dotted. Flowers are produced in heads. The heads are arranged in drooping panicles. The heads contain 5 white disc flowers and no ray flowers. The flowers are fragrant, and all parts of the plant have a fennel-like odor when crushed. The fruit is an achene with a crown of 20-30 bristles. Coastal Dog Fennel is avoided by livestock and most wildlife. It is considered a weed in pastures and fields. It is often abundant following disturbance and frequently grows with Common Dog Fennel (Eupatorium capillifolium (Lamarck) Small), which is similar but has much finer dissected foliage. The crushed foliage of Coastal Dog Fennel has been used to repel biting insects such as mosquitoes and deer flies. Coastal Dog Fennel is sometimes available from native plant nurseries, and at least one cultivar (“Dusty Roads”) exists. It can also be grown from seed or cuttings, and large clumps can be divided. It prefers a sandy soil in full sun.--A. Diamond

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Native FAC- (NWPL)

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