Joe Pye Weed (Eupatorium maculatum)
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$1.00 - $5.60
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According to legend, an 18th century healer named Joe Pye often used this plant for curing fevers and other sickness. Early settlers used this plant in the treatment of typhus, while Native Americans used it to cause the body to sweat. The genus name Eupatorium comes from a connection to an ancient Greek king named Eupator, who was rumored to have found an herbal antidote to poison that included this species. Though it has become increasingly rare in the wild, it can still be found occasionally in moist areas such as swamps and riverbanks.
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Scientific Name: Eupatorium maculatum
Also Known As: Spotted Joe Pye Weed, Queen of the Meadows, Gravel Root
Ease of Growing: Easy
Grown as: Perennial
Maturity (Blooms): Summer-Fall
Light: Full Sun to Part Shade
Soil Moisture: Moist to Wet
Beneficial Insects?: Yes. Flowers attract butterflies, skippers, moths and native bees. This is a particular favorite of butterflies and often more than one species will be encountered on a flower cluster. Caterpillars of several Moth species feed on the foliage.
Height: 7-8'
Spacing: 18-24"
Sow Depth: On soil surface
USDA Zone: 3a-8b
Produces: 8-10” toothed, textured leaves on maroon stems and large clusters of fuzzy pink flowers.
Also Known As: Spotted Joe Pye Weed, Queen of the Meadows, Gravel Root
Ease of Growing: Easy
Grown as: Perennial
Maturity (Blooms): Summer-Fall
Light: Full Sun to Part Shade
Soil Moisture: Moist to Wet
Beneficial Insects?: Yes. Flowers attract butterflies, skippers, moths and native bees. This is a particular favorite of butterflies and often more than one species will be encountered on a flower cluster. Caterpillars of several Moth species feed on the foliage.
Height: 7-8'
Spacing: 18-24"
Sow Depth: On soil surface
USDA Zone: 3a-8b
Produces: 8-10” toothed, textured leaves on maroon stems and large clusters of fuzzy pink flowers.
Direct sow in late fall, pressing the seeds into the surface of the soil since they need light to germinate. For spring planting, mix the seeds with moist sand and store in the refrigerator for 60 days before direct sowing. To start indoors, scatter the seed on the surface of the soil in a flat; compress the soil slightly and keep it lightly moist until germination, which is naturally slow but should take place within 2-3 months. Keep the soil consistently moist, and transplant seedlings as soon as they reach a height of several inches.
Keep seedlings watered, since they need even moisture in their first year of development; they may not bloom until their second year of growth. Mature plants can tolerate drought, though they reach their full potential in moist, well-drained soil. This plant may spread by rhizomes and self-seeding, and can be divided after several years of growth. Cut the plant down to the ground after the first frost. This plant attracts butterflies and bees.
For fresh flowers, cut long stems of flowers that have just opened and place them in water immediately; strip the leaves that will fall below the water.
Late in the season, these fuzzy flowers will begin to turn dull brown. Snip off entire heads and spread them out in a protected location to prevent the light seed from blowing away. When the heads have completely dried, shake them to remove the seed. The fluff attached to the seeds does not affect germination. Store the seeds in a cool, dry place.
n natural medicine, you can use Joe Pye Weed in a number of different ways. The roots are considered especially beneficial and are gathered to be dried, ground and brewed as an herbal tea tonic.
The plant holds a long history of use in Native American and backwoods medicine. You can use the roots, leaves, and flowers of all varieties to create teas that are said to address problems as diverse as:
The plant contains immune boosting polysaccharides, and stimulating the immune system may help the body to overcome fevers and illnesses on its own.
The plant holds a long history of use in Native American and backwoods medicine. You can use the roots, leaves, and flowers of all varieties to create teas that are said to address problems as diverse as:
- Respiratory Problems
- Bladder Stones
- Kidney Stones
- Rheumatism
- Impotence
- Diarrhea
- Fever
- Gout
The plant contains immune boosting polysaccharides, and stimulating the immune system may help the body to overcome fevers and illnesses on its own.
Try pairing Eupatorium maculatum with Aster oblongifolius ‘Raydon’s Favorite’, Coreopsis tripteris, Echinacea purpurea, Lobelia siphilitica, Monarda fistulosa, Rudbeckia fulgida var. fulgida, Silphium perfoliatum, Solidago odora or Sorghastrum nutans.
Suggested Varieties
Bergamot: Wild (Monarda fistulosa)
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Butterfly attracting premier! Bursting with lavender heads of flowers, this popular perennial wildflower puts on a beautiful show! Medium to tall in height, this plant looks great planted en masse, or with other meadow dwellers. Its sweetly aromatic foliage makes it even more desirable. A classic!
Coneflower: Purple (Echinacea purpurea)
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All the members of the Echinacea genus are native to North America, though they are becoming more rare in the wild. The genus name Echinacea comes from the Greek word for “hedgehog,” referring to the spiny seed head of the flower. Historically, this family of plants has been extensively used by Native American tribes and early settlers because of its beneficial medicinal properties. Echinacea acts as a natural antibiotic, and improves the function of the immune system; it became very popular in the medical field in the early twentieth century, particularly after the extensive researches of the German Dr. Gerhard Madaus. Echinacea is still widely used as an herbal remedy, as well as being a common and well-loved addition to perennial gardens and prairie plantings.