SCIENTIFIC NAME: Eutrochium purpureum 'Euphoria Ruby' (formerly Eupatorium), PP31,668

COMMON NAME: Euphoria Ruby Joe Pye Weed

GARDEN SIZE: 24 to 32 inches tall x 24 to 28 inches wide

GROWTH RATE: Moderate

USDA ZONE: 4 to 9

EXPOSURE: Full sun to partial shade

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

HABIT (FORM): Compact, mounded

FOLIAGE: Deciduous; green lanceolate foliage

FLOWERS: Ruby-colored blooms appearing earlier than typical Joe Pye Weed; flowers from summer through fall

PLANT ORIGIN: Nativar of a species native to Southeast Canada and Central to Eastern United States (including 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