Light Requirements
•    Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day).
•    Tolerates some partial shade (direct sunlight only part of the day).

Soil Preference
•    Prefers moist, well-drained soils.
•    Accommodates clay and high organic matter textures.
•    Needs acidic (pH < 6.0) to neutral (6.0–8.0) soil conditions.
•    Tolerant of wet soils and occasionally wet drainage conditions.

Wildlife Benefit
•    Pollinator Powerhouse: Attracts bumblebees, swallowtail butterflies, moths, and Ruby-throated hummingbirds.
•    Specialized Bee Support: Specifically supports specialized native bee species including Dufourea monardae, Perdita gerhardi, and Protandrena abdominalis.
•    Nesting Habitat: Native bees utilize the dead, hollow stems to nest.
•    Larval Host: Acts as a host plant for larvae of the hermit sphinx, orange mint moth, and raspberry pyrausta.
•    Avian Value: Serves as an Audubon-recognized bird-friendly wildlife food source.

Human Uses
•    Edible & Tea: Historically used by the Oswego Indians for tea. Leaves and flowers are edible and used to flavor jellies, soups, stews, and fruit salads.
•    Ethnobotany & Medicine: Plant resins have been applied externally to soothe bee stings. It is also utilized in broader herbal medicine.
•    Landscape Spaces: Adds bold summer color to cottage gardens, rain gardens, borders, and children's/playground areas.

Resistance to Challenges
•    Foraging Mammals: Highly resistant to damage caused by deer and rabbits.
•    Environmental/Chemical Stress: Resistant to wet soil conditions. It also tolerates black walnut toxicity.