Poterium tenuifolium, commonly known as Japanese Burnet, is a perennial herb that is semi-evergreen to evergreen, depending on the climate. It is native to moist meadows, forest clearings, and along stream banks in East Asia, including Japan, China, and Korea. This plant typically grows to a height of 4 feet (1.2 meters) and a width of 2 feet (0.6 meters), featuring pinnately compound leaves that are finely divided, giving it a delicate, fern-like appearance. The flowers are small but numerous, arranged in dense, globular inflorescences that can exhibit shades of pink, purple, red, and white, blooming in the summer and extending into fall. The flowers are not particularly showy, but they add a subtle charm to the garden.

Japanese Burnet is valued for its textured foliage and its ability to thrive in moist conditions, making it a suitable choice for rain gardens, waterside plantings, and woodland gardens. It is also used in traditional medicine in its native region. In cultivation, it prefers full sun to partial shade and requires consistent moisture, performing best in soils with good drainage. While generally low-maintenance, it can be susceptible to powdery mildew in humid conditions. It is not known to be invasive when grown outside its native range, but gardeners should monitor its spread, as it can self-seed under optimal conditions.CC BY-SA 4.0