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Pluchea camphorata

camphor-weed

Asteraceae

Southeastern and south-central United States

Attracts Pollinators Attracts Butterflies Deer Resistant Fragrant (strong)

Native to North America

SunFull Sun – Part Shade

WaterHigh

HardinessZones 6–9

Overview

Pluchea camphorata is an upright perennial herb in the aster family, growing 2-6 feet (0.6-1.8 m) tall on stout, often reddish, branching stems that rise from a wetland base. The alternate, lance-shaped to oval leaves are 2-6 inches (5-15 cm) long with toothed margins and release a sharp camphor or sage-like scent when crushed. From late summer into autumn it carries broad, flat-topped clusters of small flower heads at the stem tips, each head 0.2-0.3 inch (5-8 mm) wide and packed with pink to rose-purple disc florets, with no ray petals. Butterflies, bees, and other insects gather at the dense clusters for nectar. Dry, tufted seeds follow and disperse on the wind. It grows in marshes, wet ditches, floodplain woods, pond margins, and other low, seasonally wet ground across the southeastern and south-central United States. Plants spread by seed and short rhizomes, sometimes forming colonies in open wet sites. The aromatic foliage is generally passed over by deer and livestock. It needs consistently moist to wet soil and declines on dry ground, which limits where it can be grown.

Native Range

Native to the southeastern and south-central United States, from the mid-Atlantic and lower Midwest south to Florida and Texas. It grows in freshwater marshes, swamps, wet floodplain forests, ditches, and pond and stream margins. Its range follows low, seasonally flooded ground across the warm-temperate Southeast.

Suggested Uses

Pluchea camphorata is used in rain gardens, bog and pond-edge plantings, and wetland restoration for its late-season nectar and tolerance of wet soil. Its flat clusters of purple flowers suit naturalized moist meadows and detention basins. The aromatic, deer-resistant foliage suits unfenced low spots that stay wet.

How to Identify

Look for a tall, aromatic wetland perennial 2-6 feet (0.6-1.8 m) tall with toothed, lance-shaped leaves that smell of camphor when crushed. In late summer it carries flat-topped clusters of small pink to rose-purple flower heads made entirely of disc florets, without ray petals. The stems are often reddish and branch toward the top. The camphor scent and rayless purple heads separate it from asters and true fleabanes.

Appearance

Size & Dimensions

Height2' - 6'

Width/Spread1' - 3'

Reaches mature size in approximately 2 years

Colors

Flower Colors

pink

purple

Foliage Colors

green

Bloom Information

Bloom Period

~8 weeks

Summer Fall

Flowering comes in late summer and autumn, roughly August to October. The flat-topped clusters of pink to rose-purple heads open over several weeks and draw many late-season pollinators. Tufted, wind-borne seeds follow as the heads dry.

Detailed Descriptions

Flower Description

pink to rose-purple

Foliage Description

green

Growing Conditions

Sun Requirements

SunFull Sun SunPartial Shade

Requires 4-10 hours of direct sunlight daily

• Full Sun: 6+ hours of direct sunlight

• Partial Shade: 3-6 hours of direct sunlight

• Full Shade: Less than 3 hours of direct sunlight

Soil Requirements

pH Range5.5 - 7.5(Neutral)

357912

Soil Types

clay loam silt

Drainagewet

Water & Climate

Water Needs

High

Frost Tolerance

hardy

Time to Maturity

1-2 years to mature size

Care & Maintenance

Care Guide

Pluchea camphorata grows in full sun to part shade on consistently moist to wet, fertile soil, including heavy clay and mucky ground at pond and ditch edges. It tolerates seasonal flooding and standing water but declines where the soil dries out for long. The plant is hardy in USDA zones 6-9 and dies back to the base each winter, returning from the crown and short rhizomes in spring. It needs no fertilizer in fertile wetland soils and self-sows where bare, moist ground is available. In gardens it suits rain gardens, bog beds, and pond margins rather than ordinary borders. Drought and fast-draining soil are its main limitations.

Pruning

Dead stems are cut back to the base in late winter before new growth begins. Spent flower clusters can be removed to limit self-sowing where seedlings are not wanted. No other routine pruning is needed.