Scientific Name
Eutrochium purpureum (L.) E. E. Lamont
Common Name(s)
Kidney Root, Sweetscented Joe Pie Weed, Sweet Joe Pye Weed, Gravel Root, Trumpet Weed, Green Stem Joe Pye Weed, Joe Pye, Joe Pyeweed, Marsh Milkweed, Queen of the Meadow, Sweet Joe Pyeweed, Sweet Scent Joe Pyeweed
Synonym(s)
Cunigunda purpurea, Eupatoriadelphus purpureus, Eupatoriadelphus purpureus var. purpureus, Eupatorium falcatum, Eupatorium fuscorubrum, Eupatorium harnedii, Eupatorium holzingeri, Eupatorium purpureum subsp. purpureum, Eupatorium purpureum f. purpureum, Eupatorium trifoliatum, Eupatorium trifoliatum var. trifoliatum
Scientific Classification
Family: Asteraceae
Subfamily: Asteroideae
Tribe: Eupatorieae
Genus: Eutrochium
Flower
Color: Purplish-pink
Bloom Time: Mid to late summer
Description
Eutrochium purpureum is a clump-forming perennial with upright purple stems with whorls of leaves at each node. It grows up to 8 feet (2.4 m) tall and 4 feet (1.2 m) wide. Leaves are lance-shaped, sometimes purple-tinged, up to 12 inches (30 cm) long, and have a somewhat wrinkled texture.
The flowers are tiny, vanilla-scented, dull pinkish-purple and appear in large domed terminal compound inflorescences from mid to late summer.
How to Grow and Care
Sweet Joe Pye Weed is happiest with full sun to partial shade in moist soils. It prefers that the soil does not dry out, so clay works well for Joe Pye. It has no serious insect or disease problems. Sweet Joe Pye Weed just isn't a fussy or difficult plant to grow. If you do not want Sweet Joe Pye Weed to spread hither and yon, cut the seed heads off. Plant thickly if you propagate by seed in the fall, as germination is usually low. Propagation is best from softwood cuttings taken in late spring or by division in fall as they go dormant or in the spring just as shoots first appear.
Uses
Sweet Joe Pye Weed has such a rich history of healing. This plant is said to be named after Joe Pye, an Indian healer from New England during the Pilgrims' time. He is said to have used Eupatorium purpureum to treat various ailments, including deadly typhus outbreaks. The entire plant is still used as an alternative medicine. The roots are the strongest part of the plant for healing. If you crush the leaves, they have an apple scent. Once dried, they are burned to repel flies. Tea from this plant is an alternative medicine for fever, urinary tract problems, rheumatism, gallstones, and fluid retention.
See more at Growing and Using Sweet Joe Pye Weed.
Origin
Eutrochium purpureum is native to northwest, eastern, and central North America.
Links
- Back to genus Eutrochium
- Plantpedia: Browse flowering plants by Scientific Name, Common Name, Genus, Family, USDA Hardiness Zone, or Origin
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