Eutrochium maculatum
Native North American perennial reaching 4–7 feet tall in moist soils, with whorled leaves on purple-spotted stems and pink-to-purplish flower heads that bloom mid-summer to early fall, spreading by rhizomes to form colonies and attracting a wide array of butterflies and other pollinators.
Common Names
Joe-Pye Weed, Spotted Joe Pye Weed, Queen of the Meadow
Summary
Eutrochium maculatum, commonly called Joe-Pye weed, is a native North American herbaceous perennial that forms tall, clump-forming growth with purple-spotted stems, it features whorled leaves in groups of 4–5 and large pinkish-purple flower heads that bloom from midsummer to early autumn, with fragrant blooms that attract a wide range of pollinators, it prefers full sun to partial shade and consistently moist to wet soils, tolerating clay and wet conditions, it suits rain gardens, borders, cottage gardens, meadows, native plantings, and water margins, providing height and late-season color while supporting pollinators, propagation is by division or seeds, and plants spread as clumps.
Lifecycle
Perennial
Height
24 inches-10 feet
Spread
3-5 feet
Hardiness Zones
Zones 3-9
Sunlight Requirements
Ideally full Sun, tolerates Partial Sun/Shade
Soil Type
Moist, rich loamy soil that retains moisture well
Soil Drainage
Moist but well-drained soil.
Soil pH
6.0-7.0
Bloom Color
Pink to purple
Bloom Time
Summer to Fall
Foliage Color
Dark green
Fall Foliage Color
Yellowish-green
Leaf Lifecycle
Deciduous
Growth Rate
Moderate – Fast
Seasons of Interest
Summer and Fall.
Propagation Methods
Seeds, Division
Attracts Wildlife
Attracts bees, butterflies, other pollinators, and birds
Taxonomy
- Taxonomic Rank
- Species
- Author
- (L.) E.E.Lamont
- Publication
- Sida 21(2): 902 (2004)
Superior Taxa
- Kingdom
- Plantae
- Subkingdom
- Pteridobiotina
- Phylum
- Angiosperms
- Order
- Asterales
- Family
- Asteraceae
- Subfamily
- Asteroideae
- Tribe
- Eupatorieae
- Subtribe
- Eupatoriinae
- Genus
- Eutrochium
Inferior Taxa
Eutrochium maculatum var. bruneri Eutrochium maculatum var. foliosum Eutrochium maculatum var. maculatum
Synonyms
Eupatorium maculatum subsp. maculatum Eupatorium trifoliatum var. maculatum Eupatorium maculatum f. maculatum