Hemp agrimony (Eupatorium cannabinum)

Hemp Agrimony is a tall, hardy native plant that acts as a bustling service station for garden wildlife.

In late summer and early autumn, it produces big, fluffy clusters of dusty pink flowers held up by reddish stems. It is widely considered a premier wildlife plant because it provides a vital nectar boost just when many other flowers are starting to fade. You’ll often see it covered in bees, hoverflies, and iconic butterflies like the Red Admiral and Small Tortoiseshell.

Beyond the nectar, it serves as a home and food source for caterpillars, including the stunning Scarlet Tiger moth.

Once the flowers finish, the seed heads offer a natural feast for birds like finches.

Because it naturally loves damp riverbanks and marshes, it’s an easy-to-grow choice for a bog garden or the edge of a pond, where its deep roots even help to stabilise the soil. It’s a robust, beautiful plant that brings a natural, wild feel to any sunny or partially shaded spot while doing a great service for your local ecosystem.

Details

• Native: Yes
• Sun: Full sun to part shade
• Depth: 0 – 10cm
• Height max: 120cm
• Spread max: 150cm
• RHS PFP: Yes
• RHG AGM: No

Care Instructions

Hemp Agrimony is a very low-maintenance plant that largely looks after itself once established in moist soil.

To get the most out of it for your local wildlife, avoid cutting the tall stems back until early Spring, as the old foliage and seed heads provide essential food and shelter for birds and insects during the coldest months.

You can trim the plant to tidy it up if needed, but letting the leaves die back naturally will help encourage strong new buds to form for the following year.

Repotting Instructions