Myriad Botanical Gardens - Oklahoma City, USA

Common name: Sweet Joe-Pye Weed, Gravel Root, Kidney-Root, Sweetscented Joe-Pie, Trumpet Weed

Family: Asteraceae (Aster Family)

Distribution: North America

IUCN Red list: Not evaluated

Hardiness: 4a

Life form: Perennial plant

Comments: Joe Pye weed is a herbaceous perennial native to eastern and northern United States, throughout Mexico and Central America that is hardy from zones 4-9. It is an erect, clump-forming perennial which typically grows 4-7’ tall and features coarsely-serrated, lance-shaped, dark green leaves (to 12” long) in whorls of 3-4 on sturdy green stems with purplish leaf nodes. Tiny, vanilla-scentedl pinkish-purple flowers appear in large clusters in mid-summer to early fall. These flowers are very attractive to butterflies and give way to attractive seed heads which persist well into winter. The foliage of this plant may scorch when presented with drought conditions. It is a substantial plant which needs space, but when planted in groups or massed, it can provide spectacular flowering and architectural height.