Scientific Family
Asteraceae
Synonyms
Eupatorium herbaceum
Plant type
Forbs and Subshrubs
Origin
Native
Lifecycle
Perennial
Height
To 2 feet
Riparian
Yes
Low growing, shrubby perennial with showy white flower clusters and yellow-green triangular to heart-shaped leaves. The whole
plant is fragrant when dried. Woody, underground rhizomes resemble snakes.
Ageratina herbacea is recognized by the distinctive color of its usually yellow-green, sometimes grayish, leaves; bracts
with minute, thickened hairs; woody rhizomes.
Habitat
Clearings in pine forests, along rocky streams, slopes, ridges and arroyos.
Plant Community
Riparian
Pinyon Juniper Woodlands
Montane Conifer Forest
Low elevation
5000
High elevation
9000
Flower Characteristics
Flower heads are white with tiny, star-like, 5-lobed tubular flowers and long white stamens. Flowers are to 1/16 inch wide. Flower
heads are 3/8 inch wide in a terminal cluster. A cluster is about 2 inches wide.
Flower color
White
Flower shape
Daisy or dandelion-like
Tubular
No
First bloom month
June
Last bloom month
October
Flower clusters
Rounded
Leaf and Stem Characteristics
Leaves are light green, triangular, toothed, and prominently veined to 3 inches long (including stem) and to 1-3/4 inches wide.
Leaf type
Simple
Leaf color
Yellow-green
Leaf shape
Triangular
Leaf margin
Toothed
Leaves clasp
No
Leaf hairs
None
Spines
No
Fruit and Seed Characteristics
5-angled, generally 5-ribbed; pappus of 5 to 40 slender rough bristles, often easily detached.
Fruit type
Achene