Binomial: Eutrochium maculatum
Joe Pye is a versatile, easy-to-grow plant that thrives in moist, well-drained soil. It’s capable of handling many conditions but struggles in very dry conditions.
This plant provides beautiful texture and structure to our garden, and provides showy, light pink flowers that attract pollinators of all kinds.
We have a couple of patches of Joe Pye in our yard. They grow between three and five feet in height, but one patch gets up to 12 feet!
We use this plant to create height towards the back of our garden beds and to create a quick-growing privacy screen in front of our kitchen window.
We have both the straight native and a nursery cultivar in our yard. The nursery cultivar is much denser and taller than the straight natives, but it does not spread by seed on its own.
The straight natives spread by seed in moist conditions, but are not aggressive. Since we have two variations, I wouldn’t consider our seedlings to be straight natives. There is a very good chance they are cross-pollinated with the nursery cultivar.
Why We Chose Spotted Joe Pye
Spotted Joe Pye is a true native of Eastern Ontario. You can find it in damp meadows and along waterways. We’ve seen Joe Pye and its close relative, Boneset, on many canoe trips in Ontario and Quebec.
We love the height and texture this plant adds to our garden. Its staggered leaves and cloud-like flower clusters give the garden beds a natural texture. Plus, pollinators love this plant. As soon as it blooms, its buds are busy with flying insects and butterflies.
