Eupatorium maculatum Phantom

Eupatorium maculatum 'Phantom' is a robust and tall herbaceous perennial with lilac-coloured flowering heads. It is accustomed to cool and humid areas and thrives at the edge of a pond. Its blurry and light aspect gives the garden a wild touch.

It is a herbaceous perennial from the Asteraceae family. It has beautiful deciduous foliage of a very deep dark green. The leaves are triangular. The plant bears its terminal heads assembled in corymbs on sturdy wine-coloured stems up to 90 cm (35 in) in height on average, which gives it an upright and compact bushy habit compared to other varieties. It commonly reaches 60 cm (24 in) in width. The corymbs can reach 15 cm (6 in) in diameter, resembling fuzzy lilac pompons. It is true that its flowering is rather late, but it adds charm to a garden in August and September. It maintains its decorative aspect during winter thanks to its fruits topped with small fluffy cilia that disperse with the wind.

Eupatorium maculatum 'Phantom' is an easy plant: it is resistant to insects and diseases. It is also an extraordinary melliferous plant and attracts pollinators, especially butterflies. It is hardy and also an indicator plant: in its natural state, it prefers to grow in moist or even wet soils. It thus indicates a certain degree of soil moisture. To please it, you can plant it at the edge of a pond. It looks stunning in a wild garden accompanied in the background by its taller companions, Eupatorium cannabinum 'Plenum' with double flowers. Cut back the stems at the end of autumn to maintain a compact habit.