Eutrochium purpureum – Sweet Joe-Pye Weed

This species is much less commonly available than its relatives Hollow-stem Joe-Pye Weed or Trumpetweed (E. fistulosum) and Spotted Joe-Pye Weed (E. maculatum). It’s flowers tend to be lighter in color than its relatives – they appear white at first but become more purplish with age. They also have a light vanilla scent, hence the common name. Sweet Joe-Pye Weed is more tolerant of shade than its congeners and can even be grown in open woods. A quintessential back-of-the border perennial and an important nectar source for butterflies.

Formerly in the genus Eupatorium.