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Cressler, Alan

Eutrochium maculatum

Eutrochium maculatum (L.) E.E. Lamont

Spotted Joe-pye Weed, Joe-pye Weed, Spotted Trumpetweed

Asteraceae (Aster Family)

Synonym(s): Eupatoriadelphus maculatus, Eupatorium maculatum, Eupatorium purpureum var. maculatum

USDA Symbol: EUMA9

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

2-6 feet tall unbranched native perennial plant bearing branched flower stalks at the top. Main stem is purple or purple-spotted, stout and round, often covered with fine white hairs. Whorls of 4 or 5 yellowish green leaves occur along the central stem Leaves up to 8 inches long and 2� inches across, ovate to narrowly ovate with serrated margins and conspicuous veins. Pink or purple flowers occur in flat-headed clusters several inches across containing 8-20 disc florets and no ray florets. Fruit achene-like with hair-like bristles dispersed by the wind.

The Joe-Pye Weeds have been assigned to the genus Eupatoriadelphus to separate them from the Bonesets (Eupatorium). Some sources still refer to this species as Eupatorium. The genus Eupatoriadelphus differs from the genus Eupatorium by whorled leaves, while Eupatorium has opposite leaves.

From the Image Gallery

23 photo(s) available in the Image Gallery

Plant Characteristics

Duration: Perennial
Habit: Herb
Root Type: Fibrous
Leaf Arrangement: Whorled
Leaf Complexity: Simple
Leaf Shape: Ovate
Leaf Margin: Serrate
Size Notes: To about 6 feet in height.
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: Aug , Sep , Oct

Distribution

USA: AZ , CO , CT , GA , IA , ID , IL , IN , KS , KY , MA , MD , ME , MI , MN , MO , MT , NC , ND , NE , NH , NJ , NM , NY , OH , PA , RI , SD , TN , UT , VA , VT , WA , WI , WV , WY
Canada: AB , BC , MB , NB , NL , NS , ON , PE , QC , SK

Growing Conditions

Light Requirement: Sun , Part Shade
Soil Moisture: Moist , Wet

Benefit

Use Wildlife: Not a preferred food source for herbivores, but may be eaten occasionally by deer, rabbits and livestock.
Conspicuous Flowers: yes
Fragrant Flowers: yes
Interesting Foliage: yes
Attracts: Butterflies
Larval Host: The caterpillars of some moth species feed on various parts.
Nectar Source: yes

National Wetland Indicator Status

Region:	AGCP	AK	AW	CB	EMP	GP	HI	MW	NCNE	WMVE
Status:	FACW		OBL		FACW	OBL		OBL	OBL	OBL

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.

Bibliography

Bibref 946 - Gardening with Prairie Plants: How to Create Beautiful Native Landscapes (2002) Wasowski, Sally

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

Metadata

Record Modified: 2022-12-27
Research By: Joseph A. Marcus

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