Eupatorium × arakianum ("Sawafujibakama")

Japanese name: サワフジバカマ （沢藤袴）
Scientific name: Eupatorium × arakianum

[Overview]
A perennial 1–1.5 m tall, a hybrid between Fujibakama and Sawa-hiyodori.
It has a rhizome.
The stem is reddish, erect, and branches in the upper part.
The leaves are opposite and are deeply 3-lobed or 3-parted all the way up to the upper part of the stem.
The leaf margins are serrated.
The leaves have short petioles.
Many reddish purple flower heads are borne in corymbs at the top of the stem, and the flower color is darker than that of Fujibakama.
There are also white-flowered cultivars.
The flower heads consist only of tubular flowers, and the pistils protrude from the flowers.
The fruit is an achene with a pappus.

[Cultivation]
Propagate by division or stem cuttings.
It prefers a sunny site with soil that is both well drained and moisture-retentive.
When planting in the ground, avoid places that get strong afternoon sun or that dry out.
Because it spreads by extending its underground stems, to keep it from spreading too much, make a frame underground or plant it in a large pot and bury the pot.
Take care that it does not run short of water; for potted plants, water thoroughly when the soil surface dries, and for plants in the ground, rainfall is sufficient unless summer brings a long sunny spell and the soil dries out.
Too much fertilizer makes the plant leggy and reduces flowering, so apart from basal fertilizer none is particularly needed, but for potted plants diluted liquid fertilizer may be given in spring and autumn.
There are no particular pests or diseases.

[Notes]
Most of the plants sold as Fujibakama are this species.

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