Wild Quinine (Parthenium Integrifolium)

A deep-rooted plant with a taproot and rhizomes that allow it to spread vegetatively, wild quinine thrives in a sunny spot and medium soil. According to Illinois Wildflowers, the plant will tolerate light shade, rocks, or sandy soil. Wild quinine is very tolerant of drought and cold weather.

Wild quinine, a sun-loving perennial, a native plant, and a member of the aster family, grows to be about 2 to 4 feet tall in my yard. It forms rosettes of 6 inch long, 4 inch wide rough leaves (they have serrated edges). In the middle of the plant, a flowering stalk develops, producing side stems bearing clusters of small white flowers that look like tiny daisies. The flowers appear on wild quinine in late spring to midsummer, depending on climate, and last about 2 months.

Although the individual flowers are too small to be distinguished individually, there are enough of them that wild quinine is quite showy in bloom. The flowers of Parthenium Integrifolium are useful in bouquets and arrangements.

In Illinois, wild quinine is found in counties throughout the state. Parthenium Integrifolium occurs throughout the eastern United States. In natural areas, Parthenium Integrifolium occurs in dry, heavy soils in prairies, fields, open wooded areas, rocky woods, and hillsides.

The Catawba and other tribes in United States used wild quinine as a medicinal and veterinary herb. The leaves contain tannin, which may be beneficial for treating burns; leaves were mashed into a thick paste and applied as a poultice, or fresh, whole leaves we applied over the wounded area. Tea from the boiled roots was used to treat dysentery. Ashes from burned leaves were rubbed on horses suffering from sore backs.

Parthenium Integrifolium is also called American feverfew.

Wild quinine is available from numerous vendors specializing in native plants and perennials. American feverfew is recommended for USDA zones 3-8.