24 GARDEN GATE | OCTOBER 2019 | ISSUE 149
‘Elegant Feather’ dog fennel
Eupatorium capillifolium
‘Elegant Feather’
From a distance you might mistake
dog fennel for a really fi ne-textured
evergreen. Closer inspection will reveal
a soft, columnar plant with needlelike
leaves. New growth arises from a woody
base, ascending skyward with purpose:
Grow straight up, with minimal branch-
ing to disrupt its architectural line. And
it’s that straight and narrow look that
makes a statement in containers; not
many plants can create that visual. But
don’t think it can’t be used in the fl ower
bed—its soft lines and chartreuse color
make an excellent backdrop for a
border. With backlighting of the setting
sun, this plant practically glows. And
you’ll love the reddish fall color.
‘Elegant Feather’ is a sterile cultivar
of dog fennel, so you don’t have to
worry about seeds sprouting all about
the garden. Grow it as an annual where
winters are really cold, but in zones
6 to 9 you can winter it over with a
layer of mulch after cutting it back to
the ground in late fall after its delicate
foliage drops.Tender perennial Blooms: Inconspicuous
white-green in fall Light: Full sun to part shade
Soil: Moist, well-drained Size: 3 to 6 ft. tall,
1 to 3 ft. wide Cold hardy: USDA zones 6 to 9
Source: Dancing Oaks Nursery and Gardens,
dancingoaks.com, 503-838-6058STATEMENT PLANTS
GG14922_29_Top Picks.indd 24GG14922_29_Top Picks.indd 24 6/26/2019 9:35:30 AM6/26/2019 9:35:30 AM24 GARDEN GATE | OCTOBER 2019 | ISSUE 149
‘Elegant Feather’ dog fennel
Eupatorium capillifolium
‘Elegant Feather’
From a distance you might mistake
dog fennel for a really fi ne-textured
evergreen. Closer inspection will reveal
a soft, columnar plant with needlelike
leaves. New growth arises from a woody
base, ascending skyward with purpose:
Grow straight up, with minimal branch-
ing to disrupt its architectural line. And
it’s that straight and narrow look that
makes a statement in containers; not
many plants can create that visual. But
don’t think it can’t be used in the fl ower
bed—its soft lines and chartreuse color
make an excellent backdrop for a
border. With backlighting of the setting
sun, this plant practically glows. And
you’ll love the reddish fall color.
‘Elegant Feather’ is a sterile cultivar
of dog fennel, so you don’t have to
worry about seeds sprouting all about
the garden. Grow it as an annual where
winters are really cold, but in zones
6 to 9 you can winter it over with a
layer of mulch after cutting it back to
the ground in late fall after its delicate
foliage drops.Tender perennial Blooms: Inconspicuous
white-green in fall Light: Full sun to part shade
Soil: Moist, well-drained Size: 3 to 6 ft. tall,
1 to 3 ft. wide Cold hardy: USDA zones 6 to 9
Source: Dancing Oaks Nursery and Gardens,
dancingoaks.com, 503-838-6058STATEMENT PLANTS