American folklore tells us that a Native American Indian medicine man from Massachusetts named Joe Pye created an herbal treatment for typhoid fever using the leaves of a native plant. Today we know the plant as “Joe Pye Weed.” I don’t know if this is truth or legend, but Joe Pye Weed is a great fall flower.

Once classified as Eupatorium, these herbaceous perennials were renamed into the Eutrochium genus in the year 2000. There are five different species within the genus, but I hereby give you permission to refer to them all as Joe Pye Weeds.

These North American natives are tough. Their preferred growing site is in full sun with damp soil. They thrive in roadside ditches, especially along our southeastern mountain roads.  Under less favorable conditions, the plant height is reduced. This can be a good thing, since they can grow to 8 feet or more in a perfect cultural situation. There are also some dwarf cultivars (‘Gateway,’ ‘Baby Joe’ and ‘Little Joe’) that are easier to include in home plant designs than their taller cousins.

The dusty rose-pink flowers are a favorite of butterflies and bees. They are cold-hardy in zones 4 to 8. Plants can be cut back by half in late May to produce a shorter, bushier plant with more blooms. In winter, cut them off at ground level after the top growth is freeze-killed. You can encourage spread by cutting the dead flowers off and scattering the seeds. You can also divide in fall, but the coarse fibrous root balls take a sharp blade and some energy to separate. Replant divisions immediately, water and mulch.

Joe Pyes are a bit exuberant for tight formal beds, but look fabulous when planted with other fall-flowering plants like goldenrods, asters, some iron weeds, Mexican salvia, and tall sedums. Deer have not browsed those in the Mary Snoddy garden – yet.