Joe-Pye Weed for You and the Butterflies to Enjoy

Add some bold beauty and butterfly appeal to your garden with Joe-Pye weed.

This summer through fall blooming perennial is hardy in zones 3 to 9.  It grows best in full sun to part shade and moist fertile soil.  The leaves will scorch - form brown edges - if the soil is allowed to dry.  So be sure to mulch with shredded leaves, evergreen needles or other organic matter to keep the soil consistently moist throughout the season.

Joe Pye weed grows 5 to 7 feet tall and 3 to 4 feet wide. The leaves give off a hint of vanilla when crushed. The small purple or white flowers form large clusters known as panicles 12 to 18 inches across.

If this sounds too big for your landscape, don’t fret. Shorter varieties like Gateway at 4 to 6 feet tall and 3 to 5 feet wide and Little Joe at 3 to 4 feet tall and wide may work for you.

A bit more information: The Chicago Botanic Garden recently evaluated the various Joe-Pye weeds and their relatives. They looked at plants as short as 17 inches and as tall as 90. See the results of their comparative study by clicking here.

Tags

flowers-ornamental-grasses butterflies joe-pye-weed

Related

Audio

Queen of the Prairie Filipendulina rubra

Video

Grow Tall Perennials for Vertical Interest

Audio

Include Some Tall Plants in the Garden (Look to the Sky)

Audio

Great Foliage Plants for the Garden

Article

What to Plant Along a Fence