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Eutrochium purpureum (Purple joepyeweed)
Smith, R.W.

Eutrochium purpureum

Eutrochium purpureum (L.) E.E. Lamont

Purple Joepyeweed, Sweet-scented Joepyeweed, Sweet Joepyeweed

Asteraceae (Aster Family)

Synonym(s): Eupatorium purpureum

USDA Symbol: EUPU21

USDA Native Status: L48 (N), CAN (N)

Sweet-scented joe-pye weed grows from 1-6 ft. Narrow, lance-shaped leaves are whorled along the erect stem. The large, domed flower head is composed of several branches bearing tiny, pale pinkish-lavender florets.

 

From the Image Gallery

49 photo(s) available in the Image Gallery

Plant Characteristics

Duration: Perennial
Habit: Herb
Size Notes: Up to about 6 feet tall.
Fruit: Fruit is a cypsela (pl. cypselae). Though technically incorrect, the fruit is often referred to as an achene.

Bloom Information

Bloom Color: Pink , Purple
Bloom Time: Jul , Aug , Sep

Distribution

USA: AL , AR , CT , DC , DE , FL , GA , IA , IL , IN , KS , KY , LA , MA , MD , ME , MI , MN , MO , MS , NC , NE , NH , NJ , NY , OH , OK , PA , RI , SC , TN , VA , VT , WI , WV
Canada: AB , ON
Native Distribution: S. NH to PA & mts. to GA, w. to w. MN, s.e. NE & OK
Native Habitat: Moist prairies; wood edges; wooded slopes

Growing Conditions

Light Requirement: Sun , Part Shade , Shade
Soil Moisture: Moist
Soil Description: Moist soils

Benefit

Use Wildlife: An important source of honey, attracting pollinators by the score.
Conspicuous Flowers: yes
Fragrant Flowers: yes
Attracts: Birds

Value to Beneficial Insects

Special Value to Native Bees

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

Propagation

Description: Sow seeds in the fall and plant thickly as germination is usually low. Propagation is also possible by "softwood" cuttings taken in late spring or by division. Divide the plants in fall as they go dormant, or in the spring just as shoots first appear.
Seed Collection: The nutlets mature to shiny black 4-5 weeks after the flower has faded. Only a small percentage viable; these will be plump and swollen. To collect, either take the entire top of the plant or shake it into a paper bag. Seeds can be allowed to dry out before sowing and do not have to be perfectly cleaned. Store in a sealed refrigerated container.
Seed Treatment: This species requires or benefits from a three month period of cold-moist stratification.
Commercially Avail: yes

National Wetland Indicator Status

Region:AGCPAKAWCBEMPGPHIMWNCNEWMVE
Status: FAC FAC FAC FAC FAC
This information is derived from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers National Wetland Plant List, Version 3.1 (Lichvar, R.W. 2013. The National Wetland Plant List: 2013 wetland ratings. Phytoneuron 2013-49: 1-241). Click here for map of regions.

From the National Organizations Directory

According to the species list provided by Affiliate Organizations, this plant is on display at the following locations:

Delaware Nature Society - Hockessin, DE

Bibliography

Bibref 1620 - Gardening with Native Plants of the South (Reprint Edition) (2009) Wasowski, S. with A. Wasowski
Bibref 946 - Gardening with Prairie Plants: How to Create Beautiful Native Landscapes (2002) Wasowski, Sally
Bibref 841 - Native Alternatives to Invasive Plants (2006) Burrell, C. C.

Search More Titles in Bibliography

Web Reference

Webref 38 - Flora of North America (2019) Missouri Botanical Garden, St. Louis, MO & Harvard University Herbaria, Cambridge, MA.

Additional resources

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

Metadata

Record Modified: 2022-12-27
Research By: TWC Staff

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