Pocket Botanist
Check these first
- Observe how much light the plant receives daily.
- Check if the stems are leaning toward a light source.
- Look at the distance between the leaf nodes.
Likely causes
Insufficient light
Most likelyHow to tell: The stems are long and thin with large gaps between the leaves.
What to do: Move the plant to a location with more bright, indirect light. If indoors, place it near a south or east facing window.
Lack of pruning
PossibleHow to tell: The plant is tall and sparse without bushy growth.
What to do: Pinch back the growing tips in late spring to encourage branching. This creates a fuller, more compact shape.
Find out what's wrong with your common boneset
The list above covers the usual causes. Pocket Botanist looks at a photo of your actual plant and tells you the likely cause, how serious it is, and what to try first. Identification and a health check are free.
Scan with your phone's camera to get the app
Or go to pocketbotanist.app/get on your phone
When to worry
Legginess is a cosmetic issue rather than a health crisis. It is normal for the plant to grow tall, but it should remain sturdy.
Stopping it coming back
Provide adequate light and pinch the tips early in the season to promote bushiness.
Common boneset: leggy growth? Check yours with a photo
Every plant is a little different. Take a photo of your common boneset and Pocket Botanist tells you which cause is most likely, how serious it is, and what to try first. A few checks a day are free. Save the plant and you get care reminders timed for it.
Scan with your phone's camera to get the app
Or go to pocketbotanist.app/get on your phone
Get the app · Or check it from a photo now, free
Questions people ask
- Can I prune it back now?
- Yes, you can trim back long stems to encourage new growth from the base.
- Does it need full sun?
- It thrives in full sun to partial shade, but it needs at least 6 hours of light to stay compact.
More problems with Common boneset
- Why is my common boneset drooping?
- Why does my common boneset have spots on its leaves?
- Why are my boneset's leaves turning yellow?
- Why are my boneset's leaf tips turning brown?
- Why is my boneset losing its leaves?
- Why is my Eupatorium perfoliatum not blooming?
- What are these bugs on my Eupatorium perfoliatum?
- Why are my Eupatorium perfoliatum leaves curling?
Back to the Common boneset guide
This article was generated with AI on from the plant’s care profile and is general information, not horticultural advice. Read about how we build these guides.