Joe-Pye Weed
Eupatorium dubium
Joe-Pye weed is a native perennial plant with feathery, pinkish-purple flowers that bloom in mid- to late summer.
Appearance
Joe-Pye weed has clusters of tiny, feathery, pinkish-purple flowers, which bloom in July to September. Its stems are thick and are a mottled pink and purple color. Large, toothed leaves are arranged in whorls on the stem. Joe-Pye weed grows four to six feet tall.
Reproduction and Life Cycle
After blooming, flowers mature into a seed head. Wind, animals and other natural disturbances spread the seeds. New seedlings grow in spring.
Did You Know?
- Joe-Pye weed attracts bees, birds and butterflies.
- It is named after Joe Pye, a 19th century naturalist from New England who is said to have used the plant’s roots to heal typhus fever.
Sources and Additional Information
- Native Plants for Wildlife Habitat and Conservation Landscaping: Chesapeake Bay Watershed – U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
- PLANTS Profile for Eupatoriadelphus dubium – USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service
- Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center: Eupatoriadelphus dubius – The University of Texas at Austin