Eutrochium maculatum (Fr: eupatoire maculée | En: spotted Joe-Pye weed)

potted Joe-Pye Weed

Eutrochium maculatum
Alternative names: Purple Joe-Pye
French: Eupatoire maculée

Spotted Joe-Pye Weed is a tall, showy native perennial that brings vibrant colour and pollinator activity to wet meadows, marshes, and shorelines. It produces large, domed clusters of pinkish-purple flowers from July to September, which emit a sweet, vanilla- or lilac-like scent that is irresistible to butterflies, bees, and other pollinators.

This species is not only ornamental but also ecologically important, serving as a host plant for several beetles and moths. Its sturdy, purple-speckled stems and lush foliage add structure and height to native plantings.

Spotted Joe-Pye Weed prefers full sun and consistently moist to wet soils, and will even tolerate standing water. It grows well in fertile, well-drained soils, including clay, making it adaptable to a wide range of site conditions. It pairs beautifully with other wetland natives like Boneset (Eupatorium perfoliatum), Swamp Milkweed (Asclepias incarnata), and Blue Vervain (Verbena hastata).

Height: 1.5 to 2.5 m
Bloom time: July to September
Light: Full sun
Moisture: Moist to wet; tolerates standing water
Soil: Fertile, well-drained; tolerant of clay
Habitat: Wet meadows, marshes, shorelines
Ecological benefits: Pollinator magnet, host for beetles and moths
Edible: Not considered edible