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Hollow-stemmed Joe-pye-weed Eutrochium fistulosum

Previously known as:

  • Eupatorium fistulosum
Phonetic Spelling
yoo-TRO-kee-um fist-yoo-LOW-sum
Description

Hollow Joe Pye Weed is a native herbaceous perennial typically found in the low moist ground of meadows, woods, and fields. It is an erect and clump-forming plant that usually grows to 4 to 7 feet tall. Its great height makes it a dramatic accent in the back of a garden. Hollow Joe-Pye Weed prefers damp, moist to wet, rich soils, but it will also grow in gravelly or sandy soils if there is sufficient moisture. It prefers full sun to partial shade and neutral to slightly acid soils. This plant is moderately resistant to damage from deer and the flowers are attractive to pollinators, including bees and butterflies. Songbirds eat the seeds. 

Give this plant plenty of room to grow and use for naturalizing in moist meadows or in native/pollinator gardens. The tall stems are likely to need support in part shade locations. You should cut the plants back to the ground in late winter. Divide the plants in fall as they go dormant, or in the spring just as shoots first appear to propagate new plants or to correct excessive clumping.

A wonderful plant for attracting butterflies.

This plant was selected as the 2017 NC Wildflower of the Year, a program managed by the North Carolina Botanical Garden with some financial support from the Garden Club of North Carolina.

Quick ID Hints:

  • Large leaf whorls
  • Hollow stems without spots

Diseases, Insects, and Other Plant Problems:

No known serious insect or disease problems. Leaves may scorch if soil dries out.

See this plant in the following landscapes:
Crowder Park Prairie and Native Plants Garden Pinehurst Greenway Pollinator Habitat Garden, Moore County
Cultivars / Varieties:
Tags:
#rain garden#nectar plant#seeds#pond margins#fire low flammability#NC native#Pearl Crescent butterfly#herbaceous perennial#cutting garden#pollinator plant#native wildflower#dried arrangements#larval host 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#nectar plant midsummer#nectar plant late summer#nectar plant early fall#nectar plant mid-fall#Audubon#NC Wildflower of the Year#perennial#stormwater garden#wildflower#herb garden#buncombe county sun and shade garden#wildlife friendly
 
Cultivars / Varieties:
Tags:
#rain garden#nectar plant#seeds#pond margins#fire low flammability#NC native#Pearl Crescent butterfly#herbaceous perennial#cutting garden#pollinator plant#native wildflower#dried arrangements#larval host 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#nectar plant midsummer#nectar plant late summer#nectar plant early fall#nectar plant mid-fall#Audubon#NC Wildflower of the Year#perennial#stormwater garden#wildflower#herb garden#buncombe county sun and shade garden#wildlife friendly
  • Attributes:
    Genus:
    Eutrochium
    Species:
    fistulosum
    Family:
    Asteraceae
    Uses (Ethnobotany):
    Native Americans made teas from various parts of the plant to treat ailments.
    Life Cycle:
    Perennial
    Recommended Propagation Strategy:
    Division
    Seed
    Stem Cutting
    Country Or Region Of Origin:
    Eastern North America
    Distribution:
    AL , AR , CT , DC , DE , FL , GA , IL , IN , KY , LA , MA , MD , ME , MI , MO , MS , NC , NH , NJ , NY , OH , OK , PA , RI , SC , TN , TX , VA , VT , WV
    Fire Risk Rating:
    low flammability
    Wildlife Value:
    Flower nectar is attractive to various pollinators, especially honeybees. It supports Pearl Crescent (Phyciodes tharos) larvae. Pearl Crescent butterflies have flights many times during the year in Mexico or the Deep South but only from April through November in the north. Songbirds eat the seeds.
    Particularly Resistant To (Insects/Diseases/Other Problems):
    fire in the landscape.
    Dimensions:
    Height: 4 ft. 0 in. - 8 ft. 0 in.
    Width: 2 ft. 0 in. - 4 ft. 0 in.
  • Whole Plant Traits:
    Plant Type:
    Herbaceous Perennial
    Native Plant
    Wildflower
    Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
    Deciduous
    Habit/Form:
    Clumping
    Erect
    Maintenance:
    Low
    Texture:
    Coarse
  • 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:
    Neutral (6.0-8.0)
    Soil Drainage:
    Moist
    Occasionally Wet
    Available Space To Plant:
    3 feet-6 feet
    NC Region:
    Coastal
    Mountains
    Piedmont
    USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
    4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b
  • Fruit:
    Fruit Color:
    Black
    Display/Harvest Time:
    Fall
    Fruit Type:
    Achene
    Fruit Description:
    Flowers give way to attractive seed heads lasting well into winter. Small dry seeds with hair-like bristles are dispersed by the wind. Displays from August to November
  • Flowers:
    Flower Color:
    Pink
    Flower Inflorescence:
    Panicle
    Flower Value To Gardener:
    Fragrant
    Good Cut
    Good Dried
    Long Bloom Season
    Showy
    Flower Bloom Time:
    Fall
    Summer
    Flower Shape:
    Dome
    Flower Size:
    < 1 inch
    Flower Description:
    The flowers have a vanilla scent, are purple or pink and occur in rounded clusters of 5 to 7 florets per head that are up to 12-18 inches across. The individual disc flowers are about 1/3 inch across. Flowers appear from July to October.
  • Leaves:
    Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
    Deciduous
    Leaf Color:
    Green
    Leaf Feel:
    Rough
    Leaf Type:
    Simple
    Leaf Arrangement:
    Whorled
    Leaf Shape:
    Lanceolate
    Leaf Margin:
    Crenate
    Serrate
    Hairs Present:
    No
    Leaf Length:
    > 6 inches
    Leaf Width:
    1-3 inches
    Leaf Description:
    Lance-shaped dark green leaves are up to 10 inches long and 3 inches across with prominent venation, serrated margins and grows in whorls of 4-7.
  • Stem:
    Stem Color:
    Green
    Purple/Lavender
    White
    Stem Is Aromatic:
    No
    Stem Cross Section:
    Round
    Stem Form:
    Straight
    Stem Surface:
    Covered with a powdery bloom (glaucous)
    Stem Description:
    The hollow central stem is dark purple to pale purplish-white, stout, round, smooth and glaucous.
  • Landscape:
    Landscape Location:
    Meadow
    Naturalized Area
    Pond
    Woodland
    Landscape Theme:
    Butterfly Garden
    Cottage Garden
    Native Garden
    Pollinator Garden
    Rain Garden
    Design Feature:
    Mass Planting
    Small groups
    Specimen
    Attracts:
    Bees
    Butterflies
    Pollinators
    Songbirds
    Resistance To Challenges:
    Fire
    Wet Soil