Joe Pye Weed

Joe-Pye Weed (Eutrochium maculatum) is the ultimate pollinator party host for late summer gardens. Towering, elegant, and effortlessly graceful, it lights up the back of a border or the edge of a moist meadow with billowy mauve-pink blooms that butterflies, bees, and other beneficial insects can’t resist. Its stately stems and architectural structure give it a naturalistic charm perfect for native and cottage-style gardens alike.

Although it prefers consistent moisture, Joe-Pye Weed is surprisingly adaptable once established in the right spot with rich, well-drained soil, and a bit of shade relief in hot afternoons. It’s not ideal for dryland gardens, but for wetter areas or rain gardens, it’s a standout performer. Best of all, it's largely untouched by deer and adds height, color, and ecological value just when many other perennials are winding down.