Japanese name: ムラサキヒヨドリバナ（紫鵯花） Scientific name:Eupatorium purpureum
[Overview]
A perennial 1.5–2 m tall, found in its native habitat in damp grasslands and along stream edges.
It has rhizomes and forms large clumps.
The stem is reddish purple and erect.
The leaves are usually simple, in whorls of 3–5, lanceolate and about 30 cm long, slightly sunken along the veins on the upper surface, with serrated margins.
The leaf stalks are short.
Many crimson-purple flower heads are borne in corymbs at the top of the stem, forming a hemispherical to conical flower cluster as a whole.
The flower heads consist only of tubular florets, and the styles protrude from the flowers.
The fruit is an achene with a white pappus.
[Cultivation]
Propagate from seed, by division, or by shoot cuttings.
The seeds need light to germinate, so cover them with only a very thin layer of soil and water from below.
It prefers sunny, fertile, slightly moist soil that is well drained and retains water well.
Avoid places exposed to strong afternoon sun or places that dry out.
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 if base fertilizer is applied, no further fertilizer is particularly necessary.
Pests and diseases include powdery mildew and rust.
