Skip to content
← Plant Database

Spotted Joe-Pye Weed

Eutrochium maculatum

Also listed as Eupatoriadelphus maculatus, Eupatorium maculatum

herbaceous⛅ part shade💧💧💧 high water❄ Hardy: Zone 4a – Zone 9b

Climate Match for your location

See how well Spotted Joe-Pye Weed grows in your area.

Enter your ZIP code and we'll show you how this plant fits your local climate.

A tall native perennial with distinctive purple-spotted stems and clusters of pink or mauve flowers that bloom late summer through fall. Thrives in moist conditions and attracts butterflies and pollinators.

Why grow it

Spotted Joe-Pye weed offers reliable late-season color when many perennials have faded, making it useful for extending pollinator forage into fall. Compared to other Joe-Pye species, E. maculatum tolerates somewhat drier soils than E. purpureum while still preferring consistent moisture, giving it broader placement options in rain gardens and bioswales. Its moderate height (typically 3-5 feet) and sturdy stems make it less prone to lodging than taller cultivars.

Watch out for

This species spreads vigorously via rhizomes in ideal conditions and may outcompete neighboring plants in smaller gardens, requiring periodic division or containment. It performs poorly in dry soils and afternoon shade, so site selection matters considerably for success. The thick stems can take time to break down in compost or mulch piles.

Overview

Form
Upright
Growth Rate
moderate
Size
3–6′ tall × 2–3′ wide
Dormancy
deciduous
Family
Asteraceae
Dynamic accumulatorMedicinalPollinators & beneficial insects

Native to the United States

Native Range

Eastern North America

Native to: Arizona, Colorado, Connecticut, Georgia, Iowa, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Massachusetts, Maryland, Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, North Carolina, North Dakota, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Tennessee, Utah, Virginia, Vermont, Washington, Wisconsin, West Virginia, Wyoming

Seasonality

Bloom Season

J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D

Season of Interest

SummerFall

Similar herbs you might consider:

Enter your ZIP code to see top native species and strong climate fits for you.

Companion Planting

Plants well with