About Eupatorium compositifolium Walter
Eupatorium compositifolium Walter, commonly known as yankeeweed and coastal dog fennel, is a herbaceous perennial plant in the Asteraceae family. It is native to North America, specifically the southern United States, ranging from North Carolina south to South Florida and west to southeast Oklahoma and Texas. It is a perennial herb that grows 0.5 to 2 meters (20 to 80 inches) tall. Like other species in the genus Eupatorium, it produces inflorescences that hold many small white flower heads; each flower head contains 5 disc florets and no ray florets. Its flowering period runs from August to October. Natural habitats for this species include sand dunes, disturbed areas, flatwoods, longleaf pine sandhills, exposed riverbanks, and drawdown zones. Eupatorium compositifolium is closely related to Eupatorium capillifolium and Eupatorium leptophyllum. Some authors treat all three as varieties of E. capillifolium, but E. compositifolium is shorter than E. capillifolium and typically grows in drier locations. This plant is not grazed by livestock and is rarely eaten by wildlife, so it is considered an undesirable species in pastures and is often controlled with methods like herbicides.
