SCIENTIFIC NAME: Eutrochium dubium 'Little Joe' (formerly Eupatorium)

COMMON NAME: Little Joe Pye Weed

GARDEN SIZE: 3 to 4 feet tall x 2 to 4 feet wide

GROWTH RATE: Moderate

USDA ZONE: 3 to 9

EXPOSURE: Full sun to partial sun

WATER & SOIL: Medium to wet; tolerates clay soil and wet conditions. Drought tolerant once established.

HABIT (FORM): Upright, columnar, dwarf variety with strong, sturdy stems

FOLIAGE: Deciduous; green leaves

FLOWERS: Lavender-pink blooms in late summer to autumn; dry to light brown seed heads in fall

PLANT ORIGIN: Nativar of a species found in the eastern United States and Canada, primarily along the Atlantic coastal plain from Nova Scotia to South Carolina. East of Tennessee

WILDLIFE SUPPORT: Excellent nectar source for butterflies, bees, and other pollinators. Provides seasonal cover for small wildlife and may support seed-eating birds. Host plant for local butterflies and moths.

FERTILIZING: Minimal; grows well in average soils. May give a root stimulant or 4-3-3 fertilizer during initial planting, then feed lightly in late winter or early spring with compost or an organic fertilizer if desired.

PRUNING: Cut back to just above soil level in early spring to encourage dense regrowth. Leaving stems, leaves, and spent blooms over the winter benefits native pollinators and wildlife.

TOXICITY FLAGS: None known