Flower of the Week: Joe-Pye Weed

Joe-Pye weed, eupatorium purpureum, is an amazing plant—considered an herb, a wildflower, a butterfly plant and an ornamental for the flower bed.

The following post was submitted by  staff member Maggie Wiles.

Joe-Pye is also known by the common names queen of the meadow, gravel root, kidney root, mistflower, snakeroot and purple boneset. It obtained its name after a Native American herbalist, named Joe-Pye, cured fevers using the eupatorium plant. Though we tend to think of it as a wildflower in the U.S., it's long been an ornamental plant in England where cottage gardens are so popular.

Joe-Pye is quite perky and comes into full bloom in mid July when many other plants are finished and puts on a show well into October.

If you have a butterfly garden, then Joe-Pye a must-have plant. The eastern tiger swallowtail, great spangled fritillary, pearl crescent, monarch, and the tawny-edged skipper are just some of the butterflies known to love this plant.

Joe-Pye will combine beautifully with butterfly bush (buddleia), liatris, bee balm (monarda), yarrow (achillia), and anise hyssop (agastache).   

Joe-Pye is easily grown in full sun to part shade and prefers moist, fertile, humus rich soils that do not dry out. It is a substantial plant, typically growing 4-7 feet tall.

The stalks are hollow and will fall over if not sheltered from the wind. Pinch back Joe-Pye plants in the early summer to help them grow a little shorter and bushier.

It really is unfortunate that this lovely plant was labeled with the word "weed" because it's nothing of the sort, and is beneficial to our planet in so many ways. When planted in groups or massed can provide spectacular flowering and architectural height in your garden.