SCIENTIFIC NAME: Eutrochium maculatum 'Gateway' (formerly Eupatorium)

COMMON NAME: Gateway Joe Pye Weed

GARDEN SIZE: 4 to 5 feet tall x 1.5 to 2 feet wide

GROWTH RATE: Moderate

USDA ZONE: 4 to 8

EXPOSURE: Full sun

WATER & SOIL: Prefers moist, well-drained soil; average water needs, requiring additional water in drought conditions.

HABIT (FORM): Upright, clump-forming, bushy; compact with sturdy wine-red stems

FOLIAGE: Deciduous; dark green, lance-shaped leaves with coarse serrations, arranged in whorls of 3–4

FLOWERS: Dusky rose-pink to mauve flowers in large, dome-shaped inflorescences (12–18" wide), July to September; fragrant and showy; persistent seed heads add winter interest

PLANT ORIGIN: Nativar of a species originally found in the Northeast, Midwest, and portions of the West and South, 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