Native plant of rich woods. In Wildwood, occasional in the forested areas, especially on the western side and in the south, in woods near the Great Meadow..

Members of the genera Eupatorium and Ageratina with white flowers are called bonesets, snakeroots or thoroughworts.  Boneset has lower leaves that connect across the stalk and likes more open, moist areas. Late-flowering thoroughwort has narrow, stalked leaves. Upland boneset has narrow leaves with no stalks. Sweet-scented Joe-Pye weed has pale pink flowers and leaves in whorls. Snakeroots in the genus Sanicula are completely different, unrelated plants.