SCIENTIFIC NAME: Eutrochium fistulosum (formerly Eupatorium)

COMMON NAME: Joe Pye Weed

GARDEN SIZE: 6 to 7 feet tall by 2.5 to 3 feet wide

GROWTH RATE: Fast

USDA ZONE: 4 to 8

EXPOSURE: Full sun to partial shade

WATER & SOIL: Prefers moist to wet soils; tolerant of clay, sandy, and average soils; ideal for rain gardens and low areas

HABIT (FORM): Tall, upright clumping perennial with sturdy stems

FOLIAGE: Deciduous; Green foliage on strong stems

FLOWERS: Large dome-shaped clusters of bright pink flowers in summer

PLANT ORIGIN: Eastern North America; including multiple counties across 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

USES: Rain gardens, pollinator gardens, perennial borders, compact spaces