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Native Joe-Pye Weed Thrives in Meadows and Gardens

By Jennifer Correa-Kruegel, Warren County Naturalist

September 10, 2025

Joe Pye Weed 4 — Spotted Joe-Pye weed thrives in wetlands and meadows, where its late-summer blooms support birds, bees and butterflies. Photo by Jennifer Correa-Kruegel.

Spotted Joe-Pye weed (Eupatorium maculatum), with its purple-spotted stems and pale pink flowers, grows up to 12 feet tall. It thrives in wet areas and can be spotted from July through September, especially at White Lake Natural Resource Area in Hardwick.

More than just a summer wildflower, Joe-Pye weed carries a long history. Linked to Native American medicine and later adopted by colonists as a fever remedy, it now plays a vital role as a late-summer perennial for pollinators and gardeners alike.

This native is one of several types of Eupatorium. Sweet Joe-Pye weed has a greenish stem and an igloo-shaped cluster of pale pink flower heads. The leaves smell like vanilla when crushed. Unlike other varieties, hollow Joe-Pye weed has a hollow stem. Spotted Joe-Pye weed is distinguished by its purple or spotted purple stems and has a preference for wet meadows or shorelines.

With its purple-streaked stems and pale pink flowers, Spotted Joe-Pye weed is a native standout at White Lake Natural Resource Area. Photo by Jennifer Correa-Kruegel.

Lore tells of Joe Pye (sometimes written as Jopi), a Native American medicine man, who traveled around advertising a remedy for fevers. In truth, the plant made people sweat profusely, thus lowering the fever. Colonists later used it to treat typhus.

Don’t let the name fool you. Just because it has “weed” in the name doesn’t mean that it is one. This herbaceous perennial provides sustenance for local pollinators such as birds, bees and butterflies. It makes a beautiful addition to the garden as it requires little maintenance and blooms later in summer. Once it’s been pollinated and forms seeds, the tops turn brown and feathery, floating away in the breeze.

Fun Facts:

There are several types of Joe-Pye weed, including sweet, hollow and spotted.
Joe-Pye weed can grow up to 12 feet tall.
It prefers wet meadows and shorelines but is adaptable in other conditions.
According to lore, the plant is named for a Native American medicine man, Joe Pye, who used it for medicinal purposes.
Despite its name, it’s a great perennial for pollinators and makes a great addition to gardens.

Jennifer Correa-Kruegel, Warren County Naturalist

Jennifer has a Masters in Parks and Resource Management from Slippery Rock University. She worked as a Park Naturalist for Hunterdon County Park System from 2003-2006 and then at the NJSOC full-time from 2006 - 2020, starting as the Program Coordinator and evolving to an Environmental Educator. Jen is a New Jersey native and has lived in Warren County with her family since 2004. She is excited to be offering programs to this community she has grown to love.