Joe Pye- Spotted (Eupatorium/Eutrochium maculatum)
This herbaceous perennial sometimes grows as high as 2 m (6 ft 7 in). Stems are sometimes completely purple, sometimes green with purple spots. One plant can produce numerous rose-purple flower heads in late summer, each head with 8–22-disc flowers but no ray flowers. Traditionally known within the genus Eupatorium, taxonomists have recently re-classified Joe Pye as Eutrochium. The specific name maculatum, meaning spotted, refers to the purple spots on the stem. All the Eupatorium family plants do very well from seed. Purchasing an ounce of this seed can result in a hundred plants or more.
Spotted Joe Pye thrives in marshes, rich fens and swamps. It also does well in man-made moist expanses such as ditches, seepage areas and wet fields. Above all else the plant flourishes in the non-shaded environments that are also abundant in wetlands. But you may be surprised at all the diverse habitats where Spotted Joe Pye can thrive. It is an easy grower.
Eupatorium maculatum is the quintessential native plant that people think of when they consider regionally indigenous plants. E. maculatum is the most famous native plant. It cuts quite a lovely figure in wetlands and roadsides, in rain gardens and butterfly gardens.
Would you like our design/build landscaping team to develop a beautiful habitat garden system for your property that includes Eupatorium species flowers? We’d love to meet you! Fill out our customer intake form and we’ll be in touch soon.
