Share

Native Plant Database

Search for native plants by scientific name, common name or family. If you are not sure what you are looking for, try the Combination Search or our Recommended Species lists.

Search native plant database:
Name:    
Family:    

Eupatoriadelphus maculatus (Joe-pye weed)
Hixson, John

Eupatoriadelphus maculatus (L.) King & H. Rob.

Joe-Pye Weed, Spotted trumpetweed

Asteraceae (Aster Family)

USDA Symbol: EUMA12

USDA Native Status: Native to U.S.

3-6 feet tall unbranched native perennial plant bearing branched flower stalks at the top. Main stem is purple or purple-spotted, stout and round, often covered with fine white hairs. Whorls of 4 or 5 yellowish green leaves occur along the central stem Leaves up to 8 long and 2½ across, ovate to narrowly ovate with serrated margins and conspicuous veins. Pink or purple flowers occur in flat-headed clusters several inches across containing 8-20 disk florets and no ray florets. Fruit an achene with hair-like bristles dispersed by the wind.

The Joe-Pye Weeds have been assigned to the genus Eupatoriadelphus to separate them from the Bonesets (Eupatorium). Some sources still refer to this species as Eupatorium. The genus Eupatoriadelphus differs from the genus Eupatorium by whorled leaves, while Eupatorium has opposite leaves.

 

From the Image Gallery

Plant Characteristics

Duration: Perennial
Habit: Herb , Subshrub
Root Type: Fibrous
Leaf Arrangement: Whorled
Leaf Complexity: Simple
Leaf Shape: Ovate
Leaf Margin: Serrate
Size Notes: Typically 3-6 feet tall.
Fruit:
Size Class: 3-6 ft.

Bloom Information

Bloom Color: Pink , Purple
Bloom Time: Aug , Sep
Bloom Notes: Blooming period from mid- to late summer lasting about a month.

Distribution

USA: AZ , CO , CT , GA , IA , ID , IL , IN , KS , KY , MA , MD , ME , MI , MN , MO , MT , NC , ND , NE , NH , NJ , NM , NY , OH , PA , RI , SD , TN , UT , VA , VT , WA , WI , WV , WY
Canada: AB , BC , MB , NB , NL , NS , ON , PE , QC , SK
USDA Native Status: L48(N), CAN(N)

Growing Conditions

Light Requirement: Sun , Part Shade
Soil Moisture: Moist , Wet

Benefit

Use Wildlife: Not a preferred food source for herbivores, but may be eaten occasionally by deer, rabbits and livestock.
Conspicuous Flowers: yes
Fragrant Flowers: yes
Interesting Foliage: yes
Attracts: Butterflies
Larval Host: The caterpillars of some moth species feed on various parts.
Nectar Source: yes

Value to Beneficial Insects

Special Value to Native Bees

This information was provided by the Pollinator Program at The Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation.

From the National Suppliers Directory

According to the inventory provided by Associate Suppliers, this plant is available at the following locations:

Edge of the Woods Native Plant Nursery - Orefield, PA
American Native Nursery - Quakertown, PA
Prairie Nursery - Westfield, WI

Recommended Species Lists

Find native plant species by state. Each list contains commercially available species suitable for gardens and planned landscapes. Once you have selected a collection, you can browse the collection or search within it using the combination search.

View Recommended Species page

Additional resources

USDA: Find Eupatoriadelphus maculatus in USDA Plants
FNA: Find Eupatoriadelphus maculatus in the Flora of North America (if available)
Google: Search Google for Eupatoriadelphus maculatus

Metadata

Record Modified: 2009-02-01
Research By: DEW

Go back