Many small individual purple flowers combine
together to create large terminal corymb-like panicles
that can be up to 18 inches in diameter.
Late summer and fall
The leaves of this American native are whorled,
with usually 3-5 leaves at each node. The
8-12 inches long leaves are strongly serrated
and have lanceolate
shapes. The stems are canelike and often are purple at
the nodes. The related species Eupatorium maculatum
has purple spotted and mottled stems. Crushed foliage
has a vanilla scent.
Until recently, Joe Pye Weed was not
considered to be of garden merit since it
is commonly seen on the moist roadsides in
Eastern United States.
