Eutrochium maculatum

Bold and beautiful, spotted Joe Pye stands tall among its meadow neighbors and shows its rich pink blooms unabashedly. The plant flowers in August, providing a bridge in both floral resources and color between the blooms of midsummer and those of early fall.

A plant of wetlands, spotted Joe Pye grows in marshes, wet meadows, and along the margins of ponds and lakes. In the home landscape it likes consistently moist soil and can even handle temporary flooding. It prefers full sun exposure but will tolerate some light shade. Spotted Joe Pye spreads by rhizome to form a small colony of plants, and though it can also spread by its light, windborne seed, it is not considered to be aggressive.

Due to its exceptionally showy nature, spotted Joe Pye can be a standout in a formal garden. The plant’s height makes it fitting for the back row along a fence or building, and in a circular garden, it can be a stunning central focal point. Spotted Joe Pye’s moisture tolerance makes it perfect for consistently wet corners of the yard, and it can be a star in a wetland garden. If planted in soil of average moisture, though, spotted Joe Pye will require water during summer dry spells.

Tall, but not towering in stature, spotted Joe Pye is not reported to lean or flop, and when not in bloom, its whorled leaf arrangement provides an interesting architectural element. The plant is generally avoided by deer, but they may browse it to a limited degree if they are especially hungry.

Spotted Joe Pye is an outstanding nectar source for numerous pollinators, especially moths and butterflies. The luxurious, fragrant blooms of Joe Pyes are highly attractive to swallowtails, skippers, monarchs, and many other butterflies, and at least one species of Joe Pye is a must for the butterfly garden.

Photo 1 © Andrew Murray, CC BY 4.0. Photo 2 © Jeff Davis, CC0 1.0.