Photo by Dancing Oaks Nursery
Used with permission, all rights reserved
Ageratina altissima 'Chocolate'
Also Known As
- Eupatorium rugosum 'Chocolate'
- Chocolate Joe Pye Weed
- Chocolate Snakeroot
Plant type
perennial
size
- H: 3'-5'
- W: 2'-3'
planting zones
- 4a-9b
Ageratina altissima 'Chocolate' plant details
Ageratina altissima 'Chocolate' is a broadleaf deciduous perennial with burgundy and chocolate foliage. In fall and summer white flowers emerge. Attracts bees, beneficial insects and butterflies making it an excellent addition to pollinator gardens. Grows well with sun - mostly shade and regular - low water. Drought tolerant once established. Does well in average, rich and well-drained soil. A good option if you're seeking something heat tolerant and humidity tolerant.
CHARACTERISTICS OF Ageratina altissima 'Chocolate'
- Plant type: perennial
- Plant family: asteraceae
- Foliage: deciduous burgundy and chocolate
- Mature size: 2 FT - 3 FT - wide, 3 FT - 5 FT - tall
- Flowers: white blooms in fall and summer
- Uses: purple stems
GROWING CONDITIONS for Ageratina altissima 'Chocolate'
- USDA Zones: 4a - 9b
- Sun exposure: sun - mostly shade
- Watering frequency: regular - low
- Resistant to: deer and rabbit, heat and humidity
- Soil needs: average, rich and well-drained
Nursery contributed plant descriptions
Eupatorium rugosum 'Chocolate' is topped with numerous clusters of creamy white, button-like flowers that sparkle against the dark maroon to bronze foliage in late summer and fall. This is an excellent accent plant to combine with pale green, gold foliage or silver foliage. Or use it as a foil for pale lavender or pink flowers like penstemons. Plant in part sun/part shade for best leaf colouration. Tolerant of dry part shade.
Named (by Dr. Richard Lighty) for its ?chocolatey? leaves and shiny purple stems (a great contrast with clusters of white fall flowers!), this splendid 2-4' selection of our American snakeroot can even tolerate sun. S-Sh/M-W
By: Forestfarm
A smaller relative of Joe Pye weed, native to Eastern North America. This selection features strong upright stems of outstanding burgundy leaves for exciting foliage all season. Blooms over many weeks in fall with modest flat-topped snow-white terminal clusters. A valuable butterfly nectar source. Well suited to lightly shaded perennial borders or use as a filler in mixed borders and foundation planting.
By: Noname Nursery
Sumptuous and shiny, the crinkled reddish chocolate foliage adorns the erect purple stems of this superb new cultivar, selected by Richard Lighty from the eastern native Snakeroot. With Physocarpus 'Dart's Gold' as a neighbor, Eupatorium 'Chocolate' adds deep rich accents to our mixed border, and in late summer, corymbs of tiny white flowers at the stem tips seem to sparkle against the dark foliage.
Fantastic 3-4' clumps of chocolate colored foliage topped in August and September by fluffy corymbs of small white flowers, for what it is worth this has been reclassified as Ageratina altissima 'Chocolate' indeed it does look a bit like some mutant ageratum. ZONE 4
This plant sold out the first year we offered it before it ever came into bloom! This attractive form of Snakeroot has chocolate colored foliage and 3-4' purple stems bearing white button clusters of flowers in Sept. Prefers a slightly moist soil.
By: Avant Gardens
White Snakeroot. A release from the Mt Cuba Center in Delaware and selected for the richly chocolate colored foliage. This is a very hardy perennial and well named because just like sex, chocolate sells. (I've notice that often one leads to the other) Mid to late summer broccoli heads of small white flowers. Low maintenance.
By: Far Reaches Farm
Passionate for purple?? Check out the deep purple foliage on this 3-4' tall perennial! Sun to moderate shade, stays smaller with root competition – Not fussy about soil, prefers moisture. Full sun to moderate shade – nice in pots, awesome in the border! Early fall bunches of tiny white, foamy flowers provide last minute fill ups for late season butterflies – Also cuts well for arrangements. sun, well drained soils, average water needs
Rich brownish red leaves and long lasting frothy pure white flowers in midsummer to fall. Clump forming perennial 3-5' tall. Appreciates regular summer water.
Garden photo gallery of Ageratina altissima 'Chocolate'
Gardening facts about Ageratina altissima 'Chocolate' plant
How to Grow Ageratina altissima 'Chocolate'
Sun Exposure
- sun - mostly shade
Water Needs
- regular - drought tolerant
Soil Needs
- average
- well-drained
- rich
Special Situation
- heat tolerant
- humidity tolerant
Features
Foliage Color
- burgundy
- chocolate
Flower Color
- white
Wildlife
- beneficial insects
- bees
- butterflies
- deer resistant
- rabbit resistant
Flower Season
- fall
- summer
Foliage Season
- deciduous
Landscape groups by tags
See other plant types of Ageratina for your garden
aka Eupatorium havanense, White Mist Flower
Plant Type
Perennial
Zones
7b-11
Size
Height: 2'-6'
Width: 2'-6'
- sun - mostly sun
- regular - drought tolerant
View Plant
aka Eupatorium aromatica 'Joicus Variegated', Eupatorium aromaticum 'Jociuis Variety', Eupatorium aromaticum 'Jocius Variegatum', Jociuis Variety Joe Pye Weed
Plant Type
Perennial
Zones
4a-9b
Size
Height: 4'-6'
Width: 2'-3'
- sun
- even moisture - drought tolerant
View Plant
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