On our morning walks, I love seeing rich pink flowers of ‘Queen of the Meadow,’ Spotted Joe-Pye Weed (E. maculatum). It is just coming into bloom along the paths we regularly take each morning. In the midst of Queen Anne’s Lace and Grass-leaved Goldenrod, the rich pink of the blooms and the deep purple of the stem clearly mark the native Joe-Pye as royalty. Among its subjects who present themselves to polish off some royal nectar are butterflies, including the swallowtail butterflies, Monarch butterflies, the skippers, plus all sort of bees, wasps and perhaps a hummingbird or two.
Spotted Joe-Pye-weed, a member of the aster family, has ‘the widest geographical distribution and greatest morphological variability’ of all Joe-Pye weeds, according to the New England Wild Flower Society. A different variety grew with abandon in my mother’s Virginia garden but none of Joe-Pye grows in mine as it has a tendency to invade. I prefer to pay homage in meadows along my walk.
The ‘Queen of the Meadow’ will continue to delight into fall. The leaves will fade from green to a nice lemony yellow and the stems remain a spotted purple shade. The blooms will fade to a fluffy brown seed head attracting goldfinches and other birds to dine.
Actually, no one really knows for absolute certainty how the plant was named Joe-Pye but if you’re curious, click here to read one of the most interesting studies of who Joe Pye might be.
Beautiful photo! Joe-Pye was a volunteer in my yard, but disappeared. I miss all the butterflies it attracted.
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Next time try Sweet Joe Pye Weed (E. purpureum). It’s a little more tolerant of shade and dry conditions. Just as royal….
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I always heard that Joe Pye was a Native American healer, but I guess there are other versions of the story. I love this plant, and wouldn’t want to be without it. I have the E. purpureum and the E. maculatum.
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That’s the Joe-Pye version I always believed… a Native American healer. Looks like an excellent July in your gardens!
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One of my favorites! A staple in my garden as the butterflies love it!
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Well, maybe I should break down and plant it….
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