This native perennial attracts lots of pollinators to its large flowers.
Joe Pye weed is a statement piece in any garden.
Hardy in Zones 3-10, it can reach up to 8 feet tall and wide.
Credit: Denny Schrock
Many species are native to areas alongside streams, ponds, and marshes.
Add it in the spring after the last frost.
Dig a hole about the same width and depth as the planting container.
Credit: Denny Schrock
Remove the plant and loosen the roots a bit from the root ball before placing it in the hole.
Backfill with soil, tamp lightly, and water well.
Light
As a general rule of thumb, Joe Pye weed prefers full sun.
Credit: Denny Schrock
While a few species grow fine in part sun, most species will begin to flop without enough sun.
With that in mind, most species of Joe Pye weed prefer consistent moisture throughout the growing season.
Keep the soil moist at all times for the healthiest plants.
Credit: Jay Wilde
Mulch is helpful to keep the ground damp and cool, especially when it gets hot.
Temperature and Humidity
Whether it’s hot or cold, Joe Pye weed will do fine.
If it gets to freezing temperatures, the plant will die back for winter.
Credit: John Reed Forsman
Fertilizer
Other than compost when planting, soil for Joe Pye weed needs very little fertilizer.
So unless your soil is very poor, Joe Pye weed will do well in most locations.
Pruning
Given a name like Joe Pye weed, you might assume these plants can become weedy.
Credit: Peter Krumhardt
Most commonly,powdery mildewcan become a problem.
Scorched leaves mean your plants aren’t getting enough water.
How to Propagate Joe Pye Weed
Joe Pye weed is easy todig up and divide.
Credit: Bryan E. McCay
Plant these into the garden at the same depth as the original plant.
Water newly divided and transplanted plants well until they are established.
Its mauve-purple flowers begin to bloom in midsummer.
Credit: Illustration by Mavis Augustine Torke
Zones 3-7
Joe Pye Weed Companion Plants
Miscanthus
Miscanthusis a statuesque ornamental grass.
It makes dense clumps of arching grassy foliage in various widths and fineness, according to variety.
It shows off well against most flowers and provides an elegant look to flower borders.
Credit: Illustration by Gary Palmer
The aromatic leaves are oblong and deeply cut along the edges.
Foot-long panicles of flowers bloom for many weeks.
Feather reedgrass produces tiny flowers in early summer.
Seed heads mature to golden tan by midsummer and remain attractive into fall.
Frequently Asked Questions
Joe Pye Weed tastes bitter, so deer avoid it.
But young tender leaves and stalks may be appealing to deer and rabbits.
“The Great Lakes Botanist.
