Gateway Joe Pye Weed

Eutrochium maculatum (yoo-TRO-kee-um mak-yuh-LAY-tum)

Family: Asteraceae Unknown Herbaceous (3-15 ft)

The popular Joe Pye Weed cultivar 'Gateway' is a compact version of Joe Pye Weed, shorter, bushier, and with more robust flowers than other Joe Pye Weed plants. As with its parent plant, it is an herbaceous perennial wildflower, but grows to only 4 to 6 feet tall with whorls of leaves on reddish stems. It is unbranched, except for flowerhead-bearing stalks near the apex of the plant where, in mid-summer, the tiny dusky-pink flowers appear in large, densely packed clusters and attract many bees and butterflies. Flowers give way to attractive seed heads, which persist well into winter if left uncut. 'Gateway' is easy to grow in average moist to wet soils in full sun to partial shade, but tolerates some light afternoon shade in hot summer climates. It prefers moist, fertile, humusy soils that does not dry out. Use in the back of the border, as a specimen, along water margins, moist woodland edges, naturalized areas or native and pollinator gardens. It is not drought tolerant and does not perform well in hot, dry summers; it is best with consistently moist soil. This plant is resistant to damage by deer. You can cut the plants to the ground in late winter or early spring. The root system is fibrous and rhizomatous. This plant often forms small clonal colonies. You can divide the plant in spring or fall and replant to a new site. Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: No serious problems. In the heat, leaves may become scorched if the soil is allowed to dry out. More information on Eutrochium maculatum .

Source: NC State Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox ↗ NC State Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox, 54 attributes.