Fauna
Plant · GBIF taxon 5403126

Dogfennel

Eupatorium capillifolium

Also known as Dog Fennel, Summer Cedar

Dogfennel forms tall, feathery thickets along disturbed fields, pastures, and roadsides throughout the eastern United States. Its finely dissected, thread-like leaves release a sharp, dill-pickle aroma when bruised or crushed. Late in the summer, plants produce sprawling plumes of tiny cream-colored flower heads that attract a variety of small native pollinators.

AromaticFeatheryWeedy
Dogfennel reference1 / 7
Licensed reference(c) Leonora (Ellie) Enking, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA) · cc-by-sa
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Least ConcernConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXLeast ConcernRed List categories, explained →
Key facts
Diet & prey
  • Sunlight
  • Soil nutrients
  • Water
Predators
  • Grasshoppers
  • Caterpillars
  • Herbivorous beetles
ThreatsMowing and herbicide application
HabitatsOld fields, pastures, roadsides, clearings, and disturbed grounds
Life spanPerennial
Classification
  1. OrderAsterales
  2. FamilyAsteraceae
  3. GenusEupatorium
  4. SpeciesEupatorium capillifolium
Range & activity
Range data is not available yet.
Safe observation
Interaction riskHigh
  1. Low
  2. Moderate
  3. High
  4. Very high
Why interaction risk is high
Contains liver-damaging pyrrolizidine alkaloids; avoid ingestion and keep away from livestock.
Why it is dangerous
Contains hepatotoxic pyrrolizidine alkaloids that cause serious liver damage in livestock and domestic animals if consumed.
How to recognize a risky encounter
Look for tall green stalks densely clothed in delicate, thread-like leaves that smell sharply of dill when bruised.
What to do
Never consume any part of the plant, and clear dense stands from areas accessible to horses or cattle.
Responsible observation
  • Identify by scent: Gently crush a leaf tip to check for its signature dill-pickle odor.
  • Observe pollinators: Look closely at late-summer floral plumes for small native bees and flies.
  • Check pasture borders: Search disturbed field edges where dense feathery colonies quickly take root.
Related species
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