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Eupatoriadelphus maculatus var. maculatus (Spotted trumpetweed)
Bloodworth, Stefan

Eupatoriadelphus maculatus var. maculatus (L.) King & H.E. Robins.

Spotted trumpetweed, Spotted joe-pye-weed

Asteraceae (Aster Family)

Synonyms: Eupatorium maculatum var. maculatum

USDA Symbol: EUMAM3

USDA Native Status: Native to U.S.

Atop a sturdy purple or purple-spotted stem, hairy above, is a large pinkish-purplish, flat-topped cluster of fuzzy flower heads. Spotted joe-pye weed can grow from 2-7 ft. or taller in soils that are moist through the season. Narrow, lance-shaped leaves, up to 10 in. long, are whorled along the purple spotted stem. The huge, domed flower head is composed of several branches bearing tiny, pinkish-lavender florets.

This is one of several similar species found in the East. Sweet Joe-Pye-weed (Eutrochium purpureum) has a greenish stem, a dome-shaped cluster of dull pink flower heads, and foliage that smells like vanilla when crushed. Hollow Joe-Pye-weed (Eupatoriadelphus fistulosus) has a hollow stem, and Eupatoriadelphus dubius is a smaller species with ovate leaves. Folklore tells that a Native American named Joe Pye used this plant to cure fevers and that the early American colonists used it to treat an outbreak of typhus.

 

From the Image Gallery

Plant Characteristics

Duration: Perennial
Habit: Herb
Fruit:
Size Class: 3-6 ft.

Bloom Information

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

Distribution

USA: AZ , CO , CT , 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: BC , MB , NB , NS , PE , QC , SK
Native Distribution: Nf. to s.c. MT, s. to MD, NC mts., KY, LA, KS, NM & UT
Native Habitat: Swamps & marshes; meadows; moist woodlands; stream banks
USDA Native Status: L48(N), CAN(N), SPM(N)

Growing Conditions

Light Requirement: Part Shade
Soil Moisture: Wet
Soil Description: Moist or wet, calcareous soils.
Conditions Comments: Tall and bushy with whorled leaves and purple-spotted stems. (Ontario Native Plants 2002)

Benefit

Use Wildlife: An important source of honey, attracting pollinators by the score.
Use Medicinal: Folklore tells that an Indian, Joe Pye, used this plant to cure fevers and that the early American colonists used it to treat an outbreak of typhus. (Niering)
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

From the National Suppliers Directory

According to the inventory provided by Associate Suppliers, this plant is available at the following locations:

Ohio Prairie Nursery - Hiram, OH
Toadshade Wildflower Farm - Frenchtown, NJ

From the National Organizations Directory

According to the species list provided by Affiliate Organizations, this plant is either on display or available from the following:

Native Plant Center at Westchester Community College, The - Valhalla, NY
Delaware Nature Society - Hockessin, DE

Bibliography

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

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Recommended Species Lists

Find native plant species by state. Each list contains commercially available species suitable for gardens and planned landscapes. Once you have selected a collection, you can browse the collection or search within it using the combination search.

View Recommended Species page

Additional resources

USDA: Find Eupatoriadelphus maculatus var. maculatus in USDA Plants
FNA: Find Eupatoriadelphus maculatus var. maculatus in the Flora of North America (if available)
Google: Search Google for Eupatoriadelphus maculatus var. maculatus

Metadata

Record Modified: 2013-03-25
Research By: TWC Staff

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