Leaf
Plenuska, Wikimedia · CC BY-SA 3.0
Sweet Joe Pye weed
Eupatorium purpureum L.
Also known as: Joe Pye weed, Purple Joe Pye weed
Family: Asteraceae
1.50 to 2 m tall
Damp meadows, riverbanks, back-of-border plantings
Flowering: August – September
Full sun
Part shade
-30°C
❓ How do you recognise this plant?
Regarded as one of the best butterfly plants, its broad corymbs attract an incredible diversity of foraging insects.
🍃 Leaves
Large lanceolate, toothed leaves, arranged in whorls of 3 to 5
🌸 Flowers
Broad domed corymbs of small purplish-pink flower heads, highly fragrant
🍎 Fruits
Small achenes topped with a silky pappus
🪵 Bark
Erect, sturdy stems, often tinged with purple at the nodes
🗺️ Distribution
Native to eastern North America; absent from the wild French flora, grown in perennial gardens.
🐝 Value for pollinators
One of the most attractive perennials for butterflies and bees in late summer, thanks to its vast nectar-rich corymbs.
✂️ Horticultural uses
Back of the border, wildflower meadows, naturalistic perennial gardens; imposing silhouette much sought after for pollinator gardens.
⚠️ Possible toxicity
No notable known toxicity in this ornamental species.
🌿 Other Asteraceae to discover
ℹ️ Educational profile — do not use it to judge whether a plant is edible or safe.
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