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Joe Pye Thoroughwort Eutrochium dubium

Previously known as:

  • Eupatoriadelphus dubius
Phonetic Spelling
yoo-TRO-kee-um DOO-bee-um
Description

Coastal plain Joe Pye weed, recently moved from the genus Eupatorium, is an herbaceous flowering perennial in the Asteraceae (daisy) family and is native to the eastern coastal plains and wetlands of North America. Although it grows rather tall, reaching 3 to 6 feet high and 2 to 4 feet wide, dwarf varieties exist for use in smaller spaces.

The Genus name is from the Greek words eu meaning well and troche meaning wheel-like in reference to the whorled leaves. The specific epithet from Latin means doubtful. Joe Pye was reportedly an Indian herbalist and healer from the New England area.

The plant grows easily in a variety of soils from moist, fertile, and humus rich to sandy or gravelly and in full sun to partial shade. It will not tolerate full shade or dry soil. Also, the leaves may scorch if the soil is allowed to dry out. You can cut the plant back to the ground in winter and it will rebound in spring. Note also that the plant spreads by self-seeding.

Coastal plain Joe Pye weed works well in a meadow or naturalized area. Place it also toward the back of a bed as a mass planting or in small groups in a butterfly, cottage, native, pollinator, or rain garden.

Diseases, Insects, and Other Plant Problems:  No significant problems. Good resistance to powdery mildew.

 

 

Profile Video:
See this plant in the following landscapes:
Pollinator Garden at the Cabarrus County Extension Office Paths & Walkways Extension Master Gardenerâ„  Demonstration Garden, Durham Co.
Cultivars / Varieties:
Tags:
#water garden#rain garden#nectar plant#cottage garden#wetlands#NC native#deer resistant#herbaceous perennial#pond garden#native garden#border planting#pollinator plant#food source fall#NC Native Pollinator Plant#food source herbage#food source nectar#food source pollen#Coastal FACW#Piedmont Mountains FACW#wet soils tolerant#bird friendly#food source hard mast fruit#butterfly friendly#Audubon#wildflower#wildlife friendly#meadow
 
Cultivars / Varieties:
Tags:
#water garden#rain garden#nectar plant#cottage garden#wetlands#NC native#deer resistant#herbaceous perennial#pond garden#native garden#border planting#pollinator plant#food source fall#NC Native Pollinator Plant#food source herbage#food source nectar#food source pollen#Coastal FACW#Piedmont Mountains FACW#wet soils tolerant#bird friendly#food source hard mast fruit#butterfly friendly#Audubon#wildflower#wildlife friendly#meadow
  • Attributes:
    Genus:
    Eutrochium
    Species:
    dubium
    Family:
    Asteraceae
    Life Cycle:
    Perennial
    Recommended Propagation Strategy:
    Seed
    Country Or Region Of Origin:
    Eastern coastal plains and wetlands from Maine to South Carolina
    Distribution:
    CT, DE, MA, MD, ME, NC, NJ, NY, NY, PA, RI, SC, VA and WV
    Wildlife Value:
    Flowers attract many butterflies and bees such as swallowtails, fritillaries, skippers, bumblebees, and carpenter bees. The seeds provide food for songbirds.
    Dimensions:
    Height: 3 ft. 0 in. - 6 ft. 0 in.
    Width: 2 ft. 0 in. - 4 ft. 0 in.
  • Whole Plant Traits:
    Plant Type:
    Herbaceous Perennial
    Native Plant
    Perennial
    Wildflower
    Habit/Form:
    Horizontal
    Maintenance:
    Low
  • Cultural Conditions:
    Light:
    Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
    Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
    Soil Texture:
    Clay
    High Organic Matter
    Loam (Silt)
    Sand
    Shallow Rocky
    Soil pH:
    Acid (<6.0)
    Soil Drainage:
    Good Drainage
    Moist
    Occasionally Wet
    Available Space To Plant:
    3 feet-6 feet
    NC Region:
    Coastal
    Mountains
    Piedmont
    USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
    3a, 3b, 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b
  • Fruit:
    Display/Harvest Time:
    Fall
    Fruit Length:
    < 1 inch
    Fruit Width:
    < 1 inch
    Fruit Description:
    Displays from August to November.
  • Flowers:
    Flower Color:
    Pink
    Purple/Lavender
    Flower Inflorescence:
    Head
    Flower Value To Gardener:
    Fragrant
    Showy
    Flower Bloom Time:
    Fall
    Summer
    Flower Shape:
    Tubular
    Flower Size:
    < 1 inch
    Flower Description:
    Small disk flowers are pale pink to dark purple and bloom in large, dome-shaped clusters in the summer. Blooms from July to October.
  • Leaves:
    Leaf Color:
    Green
    Leaf Feel:
    Prickly
    Rough
    Leaf Type:
    Simple
    Leaf Arrangement:
    Whorled
    Leaf Shape:
    Ovate
    Leaf Margin:
    Serrate
    Hairs Present:
    No
    Leaf Length:
    3-6 inches
    Leaf Width:
    1-3 inches
    Leaf Description:
    Leaves appear in whorls of 3-4 on the stem. They are ovate with serrate margins and up to 6 inches long. There are 3 main veins that all begin at the summit of the leafstalk giving it a wrinkled texture.
  • Stem:
    Stem Color:
    Purple/Lavender
    Stem Is Aromatic:
    No
    Stem Surface:
    Smooth (glabrous)
    Stem Description:
    purple-spotted hollow stems.
  • Landscape:
    Landscape Location:
    Coastal
    Meadow
    Naturalized Area
    Pond
    Riparian
    Landscape Theme:
    Butterfly Garden
    Cottage Garden
    Native Garden
    Pollinator Garden
    Rain Garden
    Water Garden
    Design Feature:
    Border
    Mass Planting
    Small groups
    Attracts:
    Butterflies
    Pollinators
    Songbirds
    Resistance To Challenges:
    Deer
    Salt
    Wet Soil