Spotted Joe Pye Weed

Eutrochium maculatum

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  • Common name
    Spotted Joe Pye Weed
  • Latin name
    Eutrochium maculatum
  • Plant type
    perennial
  • Flower color
    Dusty pink to mauve-purple (in large dome-shaped clusters)
  • Bloom time
    Mid to early fall
  • Height
    48–84"
  • Chelsea chop
    Yes
  • Light requirements
    Full sun to part shade
  • Moisture
    Average to wet (thrives in boggy spaces, riverbanks, and rain gardens, though it can adapt to average, organic garden soil provided it does not completely dry out.)
  • Native to Ontario
    Yes
  • Locally native
    Yes
  • Deer resistant
    Yes
  • Ecological benefit
    Exceptional nectar source for butterflies (especially monarchs), bees, and other pollinators. The foliage hosts nearly three dozen species of moths and butterflies. It is a critical host plant for the caterpillars of the Ruby Tiger Moth (Phragmatobia fuliginosa), Clymene Moth, and the Blazing Star Borer Moth.
  • Notes
    Native to wetlands, meadows, and stream edges across eastern North America. Sturdy upright stems often have purple spotting (hence the name). Can form impressive clumps over time but is not aggressively spreading. Excellent for rain gardens and low areas with poor drainage. Its thick, fibrous root system anchors exceptionally well in wet soils, preventing erosion along fragile shorelines, riverbanks, and marshy habitats.
  • Picture
    Spotted Joe Pye Weed