Joe-Pye Weed
Eutrochium fistulosum
General Information
Joe-Pye Weed is an easy-to-grow, upright, clump-forming herbaceous perennial.
Joe-Pye Weed is generally found moist ground of meadows, woods, and fields. It prefers full sun and damp, rich soils, but it will even grow in gravelly or sandy soils if given sufficient moisture.
Joe-Pye Weed has purple or pink flowers in large, compound inflorescences. Sweet Joy-Pye Weed flowers between July and September. Flowers and crushed leaves are vanilla scented. They make good cut or dried flowers.
Native Americans used various parts of Joe-Pye Weed to make teas for treating ailments.
Plant Information
Plant Type:
Herbaceous perennial
Sun Preference:
Full Sun * Part Sun
Soil Moisture Preference:
Wet * Medium-Wet * Medium
Plant Height:
4 to 7 feet
Plant Width:
2 to 4 feet
Plant Spacing:
2 feet
Flower Color:
Lavender/Pink
Flower timing:
July to September
Culture Information:
Joe-Pye Weed works best for naturalizing and in native gardens or pollinator gardens, especially when given plenty of room to grow. It can be used in butterfly gardens, cottage gardens, rain gardens, rear borders and along water margins. It is a large, space-loving plant, but provides can provide spectacular flowering when planted massed.
When first planted, Joe-Pye Weed should be watered weekly for first few months, unless at least an inch of rain has been received in the last week to help it get established. Joe-Pye Weed appreciates watering during extended dry periods and drought.
If desired, Joe-Pye Weed can be cut back to the ground in late fall or over winter. In part shade, it may need support to keep it from flopping over.
Tolerates:
Fire
Wet Soil
Pests & Disease:
Joe-Pye Weed has no serious insect problems.
Joe-Pye Weed has no serious disease problems.
Joe-Pye Weed sometimes suffers from leaf scorch (browning leaf edges) if the soils are allowed to dry out.
Wildlife Use:
Pollinators: Joe-Pye Weed’s flowers are especially attractive to honey bees and butterflies. It is a host plant of Pearl Crescent (Phyciodes tharos) larvae.
Birds: Seed heads persist well into winter when they provide food for songbirds.
Mammals: Joe-Pye Weed is moderately resistant to deer damage.
Other: N/A.
Native to:
East Tennessee including Knox and surrounding counties
More Information:
NC State Plant Database:
Missouri Botanical Garden:
TN-KY Plant Atlas
Other Link: