Joe Pye Weed: Sweet (Eupatorium purpureum)
SKU:
$1.00
$1.00 - $5.60
$1.00
per item
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.
Scientific Name: Eupatorium purpureum
Also Known As: Sweetscented Joe Pye Weed, Queen of the Meadow, Trumpet-Weed, Gravel Weed, Gravel-Root, Purple Boneset.
Ease of Growing: Easy
Grown as: Perennial
Maturity (Blooms): Summer-Fall
Attracts Beneficial Insects?: Yes. Attracts Honeybees and Butterflies.
Light: Full Sun
Water: Medium
Soil Moisture: Medium
Height: 7-8'
Spacing: 12-15”
Sow Depth: On soil surface
USDA Zone: 5a-10b
Produces: 8-10” toothed, textured leaves on maroon stems and large clusters of fuzzy pink flowers.
Also Known As: Sweetscented Joe Pye Weed, Queen of the Meadow, Trumpet-Weed, Gravel Weed, Gravel-Root, Purple Boneset.
Ease of Growing: Easy
Grown as: Perennial
Maturity (Blooms): Summer-Fall
Attracts Beneficial Insects?: Yes. Attracts Honeybees and Butterflies.
Light: Full Sun
Water: Medium
Soil Moisture: Medium
Height: 7-8'
Spacing: 12-15”
Sow Depth: On soil surface
USDA Zone: 5a-10b
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.
Sweet Joe Pye Weed was used by the native N. American Indians as a diaphoretic to induce perspiration and break a fever. The plant was quickly adopted by the white settlers and still finds a use in modern herbalism. The whole plant, but especially the root, is astringent, diuretic, nervine and tonic. It works particularly on the genito-urinary system and the uterus. Especially valuable as a diuretic and stimulant, as well as an astringent tonic, a tea made from the roots and leaves has been used to eliminate stones from the urinary tract, to treat urinary incontinence in children, cystitis, urethritis, impotence etc. It is also said to be helpful in treating rheumatism and gout by increasing the removal of waste from the kidneys. The leaves and flowering stems are harvested in the summer before the buds open and are dried for later use. The roots are harvested in the autumn and dried for later use.
Project Purity Seeds can not take any responsibility for any adverse effects from the use of plants. Always seek advice from a professional before using a plant medicinally.
Try pairing Eupatorium purpureum with Aster novae-angliae, Lobelia siphilitica, Monarda fistulosa, Rudbeckia laciniata,, Solidago rugosa 'Fireworks', Carex amphibola or Sorghastrum nutans.
The roots have been burnt and their ashes used as salt to flavor foods. The stems have been used as straws. The fruits yield a pink or red textile dye.
Suggested Varieties
Bergamot: Wild (Monarda fistulosa)
$1.00 - $5.60
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!